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5,600 Refugees Rescued in 48 Hours an Indictment of Crises Created by West
Over 5,600 asylum seekers were rescued in just 48 hours
May 25, 2016
As humanitarian groups plead with European officials to allow refugees safe passage--and as Europe closes its borders to asylum seekers--more and more people are risking their lives in the treacherous sea crossing from North Africa to Europe, with disastrous results.
The Italian Coast guard announced Wednesday morning that a staggering 5,600 migrants had been rescued from treacherous waters off the coast of Libya in only the last 48 hours--straining all search and rescue agencies in the region to absolute capacity.
On Tuesday alone, 3,000 asylum seekers were rescued in 23 separate operations.
The Italian navy reported on Wednesday afternoon that a boat holding 590 migrants had capsized in the Mediterranean, killing 7. The rescue operation is ongoing.
ABC Australia reports on the enormous scale of the rescue operations:
Coastguard boats, vessels from the European Union's naval operation EUNAVFOR Med and its border agency Frontex, a boat from NGO SOS Mediterranee and two tug boats from an offshore oil platform were all involved in the rescue operations.
Every search and rescue asset in the area was deployed, the coastguard said.
"In video footage taken by the Italian coast guard, rescuers can be seen approaching the old wooden ship carrying mostly sub-Saharan African men pleading for 'water, water, water' and gesturing with their hands for something to drink," reports the Telegraph.
Humanitarian groups have deeply criticized European officials for the controversial EU-Turkey deal that closes the land route for refugees traveling from the Middle East, arguing that it will cause more migrants to attempt the more dangerous route across the Mediterranean.
As summer approaches, more and more refugees are already risking the dangerous sea crossing from Libya to Europe.
Migrants moving through Libya, which has descended into lawlessness since the U.S.-backed NATO intervention in 2011, are subjected to the abuse of human traffickers operating in a "brutal black market," as the Telegraph writes.
This week's rescues bring the number of migrants saved in Mediterranean waters to 37,000 so far this year.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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As humanitarian groups plead with European officials to allow refugees safe passage--and as Europe closes its borders to asylum seekers--more and more people are risking their lives in the treacherous sea crossing from North Africa to Europe, with disastrous results.
The Italian Coast guard announced Wednesday morning that a staggering 5,600 migrants had been rescued from treacherous waters off the coast of Libya in only the last 48 hours--straining all search and rescue agencies in the region to absolute capacity.
On Tuesday alone, 3,000 asylum seekers were rescued in 23 separate operations.
The Italian navy reported on Wednesday afternoon that a boat holding 590 migrants had capsized in the Mediterranean, killing 7. The rescue operation is ongoing.
ABC Australia reports on the enormous scale of the rescue operations:
Coastguard boats, vessels from the European Union's naval operation EUNAVFOR Med and its border agency Frontex, a boat from NGO SOS Mediterranee and two tug boats from an offshore oil platform were all involved in the rescue operations.
Every search and rescue asset in the area was deployed, the coastguard said.
"In video footage taken by the Italian coast guard, rescuers can be seen approaching the old wooden ship carrying mostly sub-Saharan African men pleading for 'water, water, water' and gesturing with their hands for something to drink," reports the Telegraph.
Humanitarian groups have deeply criticized European officials for the controversial EU-Turkey deal that closes the land route for refugees traveling from the Middle East, arguing that it will cause more migrants to attempt the more dangerous route across the Mediterranean.
As summer approaches, more and more refugees are already risking the dangerous sea crossing from Libya to Europe.
Migrants moving through Libya, which has descended into lawlessness since the U.S.-backed NATO intervention in 2011, are subjected to the abuse of human traffickers operating in a "brutal black market," as the Telegraph writes.
This week's rescues bring the number of migrants saved in Mediterranean waters to 37,000 so far this year.
As humanitarian groups plead with European officials to allow refugees safe passage--and as Europe closes its borders to asylum seekers--more and more people are risking their lives in the treacherous sea crossing from North Africa to Europe, with disastrous results.
The Italian Coast guard announced Wednesday morning that a staggering 5,600 migrants had been rescued from treacherous waters off the coast of Libya in only the last 48 hours--straining all search and rescue agencies in the region to absolute capacity.
On Tuesday alone, 3,000 asylum seekers were rescued in 23 separate operations.
The Italian navy reported on Wednesday afternoon that a boat holding 590 migrants had capsized in the Mediterranean, killing 7. The rescue operation is ongoing.
ABC Australia reports on the enormous scale of the rescue operations:
Coastguard boats, vessels from the European Union's naval operation EUNAVFOR Med and its border agency Frontex, a boat from NGO SOS Mediterranee and two tug boats from an offshore oil platform were all involved in the rescue operations.
Every search and rescue asset in the area was deployed, the coastguard said.
"In video footage taken by the Italian coast guard, rescuers can be seen approaching the old wooden ship carrying mostly sub-Saharan African men pleading for 'water, water, water' and gesturing with their hands for something to drink," reports the Telegraph.
Humanitarian groups have deeply criticized European officials for the controversial EU-Turkey deal that closes the land route for refugees traveling from the Middle East, arguing that it will cause more migrants to attempt the more dangerous route across the Mediterranean.
As summer approaches, more and more refugees are already risking the dangerous sea crossing from Libya to Europe.
Migrants moving through Libya, which has descended into lawlessness since the U.S.-backed NATO intervention in 2011, are subjected to the abuse of human traffickers operating in a "brutal black market," as the Telegraph writes.
This week's rescues bring the number of migrants saved in Mediterranean waters to 37,000 so far this year.
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