Proactiva Open Arms founder Oscar Camps, shown in Madridon
'December 15, said his vessel rescued 265 migrants
from Libya over the weekend.
Photo by Fernando Alvarado/EPA-EFE
Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A Proactiva Open Arms ship carrying 265 migrants picked up from the Mediterranean Sea has found safe harbor at Porto Empedocle in Sicily, the non-governmental organization said Monday.
The organization said the migrants, mostly from Eritrea, were rescued by the Spanish-flagged Open Arms vessel. The group, which also included migrants from Sudan, Syria and Egypt, fled Libya aboard a wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea and was found Saturday about 110 miles north of the Libyan coast.
Open Arms said Monday it was waiting for further instructions as the ship sailed toward the island.
The vessel already had rescued 157 migrants from rough seas when it picked up another 96 Saturday outside the Libyan search zone. Open Arms founder Oscar Camps shared a video showing deteriorating weather conditions during the rescue.
Diluvia y las condiciones en cubierta se deterioran rápidamente por el mal tiempo. Esta misma situación en una patera seria una muerte segura. Después de las negativas de Malta para permitirnos desembarcar, Italia nos acaba de confirmar un puerto seguro: Porto Empedocle, Sicilia. pic.twitter.com/i4m6SGNWh0— Oscar Camps (@campsoscar) January 3, 2021
"This same situation on a boat would be certain death," Camps said. "After Malta's refusals to allow us to disembark, Italy has just confirmed a safe port for us."
On Sunday, the International Organization for Migration said that 79 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and another eight were missing. Those rescued included 13 women and seven children.
Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A Proactiva Open Arms ship carrying 265 migrants picked up from the Mediterranean Sea has found safe harbor at Porto Empedocle in Sicily, the non-governmental organization said Monday.
The organization said the migrants, mostly from Eritrea, were rescued by the Spanish-flagged Open Arms vessel. The group, which also included migrants from Sudan, Syria and Egypt, fled Libya aboard a wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea and was found Saturday about 110 miles north of the Libyan coast.
Open Arms said Monday it was waiting for further instructions as the ship sailed toward the island.
The vessel already had rescued 157 migrants from rough seas when it picked up another 96 Saturday outside the Libyan search zone. Open Arms founder Oscar Camps shared a video showing deteriorating weather conditions during the rescue.
Diluvia y las condiciones en cubierta se deterioran rápidamente por el mal tiempo. Esta misma situación en una patera seria una muerte segura. Después de las negativas de Malta para permitirnos desembarcar, Italia nos acaba de confirmar un puerto seguro: Porto Empedocle, Sicilia. pic.twitter.com/i4m6SGNWh0— Oscar Camps (@campsoscar) January 3, 2021
"This same situation on a boat would be certain death," Camps said. "After Malta's refusals to allow us to disembark, Italy has just confirmed a safe port for us."
On Sunday, the International Organization for Migration said that 79 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and another eight were missing. Those rescued included 13 women and seven children.
Libya has been a popular departure point for migrants escaping war and terrorist violence in the region after nearly a decade of chaos following the death of the country's strongman, Moammar Gadhafi, in 2011.
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