The
drama continues for thousands of refugees in the water grave of
Mediterranean
“The UN
refugee agency on Wednesday said it was 'shocked' at evidence that
some 300 migrants and refugees may have died after setting off from
the coast of Libya in four dinghies at the weekend.”
“UNHCR
had reported yesterday that at least 29 people died on Sunday on one
of the boats, which was carrying 105 people and trying to reach
Europe. 'Reports gathered [since] by UNHCR from the Italian
Coastguard and the survivors in Lampedusa now suggest some 300
people are confirmed missing,'
the agency said in a statement, adding that they were mainly from
Sub-Saharan Africa.”
“The
other victims were on board two dinghies found on Monday, but a
fourth dinghy mentioned by survivors is missing. A total 82 survivors
have disembarked at Italy's Lampedusa Island, after being rescued by
Italian coastguards and a merchant vessel.”
“Survivors
confirmed to UNHCR that they had left on Saturday from Libya on
rubber dinghies and had been at sea without food and water. Aside
from those on the first boat that UNHCR reported on, only two out
of about 100 passengers survived on a second dinghy and seven out of
about 100 people on a third one. A search is under way for the fourth
dinghy. The youngest of the missing was a 12-year-old boy.”
“At
least 218,000 people, including migrants and refugees, crossed the
Mediterranean by irregular routes last year and this trend is
expected to continue in 2015. About 3,500 boat people lost their
lives trying to cross to Europe in 2014.”
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