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Over 2,600 Mediterranean colonists migrants saved in 22 rescue missions yesterday: Italian Coast Guard
[Libya Herald] Over 2,600 migrants colonists in 22 rescue missions were saved while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya yesterday, the Italian Coast Guard reported.

The multiple rescue operations were carried out by the Italian Coast Guard, the Italian Navy, the EU’s Sophia Operation and NGO’s including MOAS and the Italian Red Thingy.

The Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station NGO reported that during its operations it had rescued 354 migrants colonists and recovered seven dead bodies ‐ five women and two men. They were believed to have died from inhaling toxic fumes from an overloaded rubber boat.

MSF believe many of the rubber boats are of poor quality exported to Libya from China. Yesterday no less than eight young children aged from 1 to 11 were amongst those rescued ‐ including a two-year old.

The rescued included many youth and children with MSF reporting that over 18,000 unaccompanied children had already crossed the Mediterranean in 2016.

The tide of migrants colonists launched from the Libyan coast across the Mediterranean has failed to subside despite the EU’s Operation Sophia designed to stem the flow. The continued migrant crossings have also continued unabated despite the installation of the pro--EU Faiez Serraj-led Presidency Council/Government of National Accord in Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
 since 30th March.

In its latest figures released today, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that 288,005 migrants colonists and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2016 up to 4 September. This total does not include the hundreds still on their way to Italian ports after being rescued Sunday and Monday in the Channel of Sicily.

In 2016 almost all migrant and refugee landings in the Mediterranean were to Greece and Italia, where 116,861 migrants colonists and refugees have been recorded through Sunday.

Confirmed Mediterranean fatalities among migrants colonists and refugees, the IOM reports, stands at 3,176 ‐ a figure that does not include 15 bodies reportedly recovered Monday. These Mediterranean deaths are almost 500 more than those recorded up to 6 September 2015.


Posted by: Fred 2016-09-07
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=466900