Every summer, migration flows to Europe increase. Sailing conditions are better than in winter and there are more attempts to cross the Mediterranean. But the journey is still very dangerous: the central Mediterranean, between Libya and Europe, is still the deadliest migration route in the world. In the last seven days, Ocean Viking, the SOS Mediterranean ship, has rescued 572 people at sea.
Since these relief efforts, no country has agreed to host the boat. And the situation on board becomes complicated.
This Thursday, July 8, the crew is onOcean Viking has for the fifth time requested a safe place to land the 572 people rescued at sea. So far, the maritime authorities have not responded positively. Time is running out, Judge Sophie Beau, founder of SOS Méditerranée. “We are very worried because we only have food rations for so many people until tomorrow,” she said. So it’s really about feeding and taking care of the people on board. There are growing tensions that can cause small fights between people etc. People are stacked on top of each other, there is not enough space. ”
1/2 (1/2) # OceanViking still has no assigned port to land 572 survivors on board. The situation is deteriorating hour by hour. The medical team reports more and more cases of mental distress. pic.twitter.com/3AlbPnprC2
– SOS MEDITERRANEE France (@SOSMedFrance) July 8, 2021 Suicide attempt on board
Given the progress of previous SOS-Mediterranean missions, Sophie Beau fears that the situation will deteriorate. We had other very critical periods on board, especially last year, with a wait of up to 11 days without any notice from any safe place. It had been very complicated to handle, with suicide attempt on board. So really, it can escalate at any time. And there we feel that it is a tipping point approaching, the founder of SOS Méditerranée continues.
This Wednesday night, July 7, a man jumped into the water from the Ocean Viking deck. He was recovered by rescuers. “The uncertainty,” he said, “was too much for him to take.”
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