„Hundreds rescued from sea as Mediterranean migrant death toll hits 3,400
In this handout picture released by the Italian Navy on December 4, 2014 migrants sit in a boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily. AFP/ „Marina Militare“
A total 408 migrants, mainly Syrians, have been rescued after spending six days adrift on a boat in the Mediterranean, Spanish officials said Wednesday, hours after the UN refugee agency declared the Mediterranean „the deadliest route of all“ for migrants.
The boat carrying the migrants was intercepted by a Spanish oceanographic vessel on Tuesday about 150 nautical miles east of the Sicilian port of Augusta, said the Spanish National Research Council which operates the research vessel said.
The vessel, the Sarmiento de Gamboa, plucked 194 migrants from the ship, including 61 children and 54 women, and gave them water, juice, fruit, yoghurt and blankets.
„They showed signs of dehydration but are otherwise in good health,“ its captain Maria Angeles Campos told the research council.
The remaining passengers were rescued by an Icelandic coast guard ship taking part in Triton, a European Union coastal patrol operation aimed at helping Italy cope with an influx of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from north Africa.
Operation Triton is supposed to replace „Mare Nostrum“ the Italian navy’s search-and-rescue mission.
The Mediterranean has become „the deadliest route of all“ for migrants, the United Nations refugee agency announced earlier on Wednesday. […]“
„Coastal Patrol Vessel Týr Rescues 406 Migrants Drifting On “Deadliest Route”
Haukur Már Helgason | @haukurmar
This Wednesday, the Coast Guard published the attached photographs, taken aboard its coastal patrol vessel Týr, during a search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean. According to RÚV, that day Týr’s crew took part in an operation saving 408 migrants, travelling on a cargo vessel, drifting some 165 nautical miles off Malta’s coast. According to the Lebanon-based news medium Al-Akhbar, the passengers were mainly Syrians, and had spent six days adrift on the boat.
The rescue operation took place only hours after the UN issued a statement describing the Mediterranean as the “deadliest route” taken by migrants. According to estimates, 207,000 migrants and refugees have attempted to cross the Mediterranean this year, of which over 3,419 are known to have drowned.
Also according to RÚV, last week, Týr’s crew took part in operations saving 390 migrants under similar conditions.
“Good for the soul”
Reportedly, no crew was on board the migrants’ ship when it was found. Týr’s crew took over its control and headed to shore. When the ship’s engine failed, Týr’s crew, co-operating with Italian police, decided to transport the passengers to a Spanish oceanographic vessel, Sarmiento de Gamboa, which eventually carried them to Italy.
Interviewed by RÚV, Týr’s Captain, Einar Heiðar Valsson said that the passengers had been in an “incredibly good” shape, given the circumstances. Quoted by Al-Akhbar, the Spanish vessel’s Captain, Maria Angeles Campos, said they “showed signs of dehydration” but were “otherwise in good health.” Einar Heiðar further commented that it is “hard to imagine the misery these people are fleeing from” and that yet on the other hand, it is extremely good for the soul to be able to come to the rescue and assist these people.”
Coast Guard and Frontex
The Icelandic Coast Guard has partaken in Frontex’ patrol operations on the Mediterranean since 2010. Frontex is the the agency responsible for patrolling the EU’s and the Schengen area’s external borders. Iceland is not a member country of the EU but it is a full member of the Schengen area. In a statement issued in 2011, the Coast Guard explained that it took part in operations in the Mediterranean to make up for post-2008 budget cuts.
According to Al-Akhbar, the Icelandic Coast Guard’s vessel’s current operations are a part of Triton, a coast patrol operation in the Mediterranean recently initiated by the EU to replace the Italian Navy’s “Mare Nostrum” search and rescue mission. Triton is an operation on a much smaller scale than Mare Nostrum, reportedly run on less than one third of the latter’s former budget. According to Frontex’ own press release this November, the operation has a total monthly budget of €2,9 million, to “coordinate the deployment of three open sea patrol vessels, two coastal patrol vessels, two coastal patrol boats, two aircraft, and one helicopter” in the Mediterranean.
At the launch of Triton, Frontex Executive Director Gil Arias Fernandez said: “I would like to underline that operation Triton focuses on border control and surveillance. Having said that saving lives will remain an absolute priority”. The Guardian has called Triton “a grotesque betrayal of the founding principles of the EU, an organisation built on the promise of peace, prosperity and asylum for the desperate” and “an indictment of timid politicians”. […]“