Ocean Viking rescues 466 migrants

Exhausted, these migrants have been waiting, for more than a week for some, to be landed on land. On board the humanitarian ship Ocean Viking, there are 81 mostly unaccompanied minors and a three-week-old infant. NGOs like the Red Cross give them first aid. “We have a complicated situation, with a lot of really delicate medical situations, people who are physically and psychologically exhausted, dehydration for many of them, sunburn”says Sophie Beau, director of the SOS Méditerranée association.

Coming from Bangladesh, Egypt or Eritrea, these migrants should land in Malta or Lampedusa (Italy), subject to the green light from the authorities. With 10 rescues carried out in three days, the situation is unprecedented for SOS Méditerranée. Every year, thousands of migrants try to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, but 2,048 died during their crossing last year.