Armed speedboats snatch migrants from sinking vessel near Libya
Armed attackers in speedboats kidnapped women and children from a deflating migrant vessel off Libya. Doctors Without Borders ship rescued dozens of men who jumped into Mediterranean waters
In a troubling sea-incident off Libyas coast‚ armed speed-boats targeted a migrant-filled rubber dinghy that started loosing air. The attackers (who came in two fast vessels) took away all women and children from the over-crowded boat
During this high-seas drama‚ many panic-stricken men and boys jumped into the water; while their vessel — carrying about one-hundred-and-twelve people — was slowly deflating. The Doctors Without Borders team on their ship Geo Barents rushed to help these migrants in international waters
The rescue-ship managed to save eighty-three people: seventy of them were pulled straight from the sea — including many under-age boys traveling alone. The whole operation took place between thursday and friday‚ with the medical team working non-stop to help survivors
The incident shows how sea-routes near North Africa remain risky for migrants‚ with armed groups taking advantage of these dangerous crossings. The Geo Barents crew noted that this kind of attack makes their work in the Mediterranean even more important
