Sea-Watch Rescues Over 30 Migrants Stranded on Mediterranean Gas Platform

A charity vessel operated by Sea-Watch rescued over 30 migrants, including two children, who had been stranded for four days on a gas platform in the Mediterranean near Tunisia. The migrants had been left exposed to the cold and without care after their rubber dinghy drifted away while they were trying to escape from Libya. A reconnaissance plane operated by Sea-Watch spotted the group on the Miskar platform, prompting the rescue mission.

Sea-Watch’s fast ship, Aurora, departed from the Italian island of Lampedusa to rescue the stranded migrants. The organization confirmed that the migrants were now safe and receiving assistance from their crew. Alarm Phone, a group that operates a helpline for sea migrants, reported that one person had died and others were sick among the stranded group. The migrants had been in distress for several days before being rescued.

Despite efforts by European governments to curb irregular immigration, agreements with Tunisia and Libya allow for the interception and return of sea migrants. Human rights groups have criticized these agreements, as they often result in migrants being returned to dangerous or inhospitable conditions. Sea-Watch’s rescue mission highlights the ongoing challenges faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of safety and a better life.

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