Spanish aid boat takes 123 migrants onboard, seeks port

A Spanish humanitarian aid group says its rescue ship has saved 123 migrants attempting a perilous crossing across the Mediterranean.

Proactiva Open Arms said that it had taken the migrants on board during two separate rescue operations in the central Med and that it is looking for a safe port to disembark.

Organization leader Oscar Camps says many of the migrants “show signs of having suffered violence in Libya” before setting sail.

Open Arms adds that Italy, which has denied it entry to its ports before, has threatened to fine the NGO for €50,000 if it enters Italy’s national waters.

The International Organization for Migration says 840 people died trying to cross the Mediterranean this year.

Libyans intercept boat carrying 75 Europe-bound migrants

Libya’s coast guard meanwhile said yesterday that it intercepted 75 Europe-bound migrants off the country’s Mediterranean coast.

Spokesman Ayoub Gassim said that a rubber boat carrying migrants from Bangladesh, Morocco, Somalia, Algeria and Sudan was stopped Friday some 110 kilometres west of the capital, Tripoli.

He says the migrants were given humanitarian and medical aid before being taken to a detention centre in the north-western city of Zawiya.

Spain rescues over 50 underage migrants from boat

Spain’s maritime rescue service said yesterday it had saved 59 migrants, nearly all minors, trying to make the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea in a small boat.

The service says that the migrants were located yesterday in the Strait of Gibraltar by a Civil Guard patrol craft, which escorted them to a rescue ship. The Guardia Civil reported to the service that 51 of the occupants were under 18-years-of-age.

The other passengers were seven women and one adult man. All appeared to be of northern African descent, according to authorities.

Spain became the leading entry point for migrants to Europe in 2018, with about 57,000 unauthorized border crossings.

The International Organization for Migration says 840 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean this year.