MARSEILLE: The Ocean Viking, a rescue ship chartered by the humanitarian NGO SOS Mediterranee, successfully rescued 68 stranded migrants from a double-decker wooden boat in international waters off the coast of Libya on Sunday.
The rescue operation took place after the migrants departed from Zouara, Libya, the previous night. SOS Mediterranee reported that several of the rescued individuals were suffering from seasickness and were currently receiving medical treatment from their onboard medical team, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Photographs released by the NGO on social media showed dozens of migrants crowded onto the makeshift boat, all wearing orange life jackets.
Italian authorities have ordered the Ocean Viking to disembark the rescued migrants at the port of Ancona, which is located a considerable distance from the site of the rescue. SOS Mediterranee has expressed objections to this decision, citing the significant travel distance and the urgent need for search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean. The organization emphasized the high risk of loss of life as many boats continue to depart from the shore in the region.
The far-right government led by Giorgia Meloni, which assumed power in 2022 and includes anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini as deputy prime minister, has escalated efforts to hinder the activities of migrant rescue organizations.
Ocean Viking’s Rescue Operations
In late August, the Ocean Viking rescued 440 migrants in distress in international waters off Libya and Tunisia and was directed to the port of Genoa in northern Italy, which had been designated as a safe port by Italian authorities for disembarking survivors.
The central Mediterranean route is considered the most perilous migratory path globally, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The UN agency reported that since the beginning of 2023, 2,013 migrants have gone missing in these waters, compared to 1,417 for the entire year of 2022.
In June, at least 82 individuals lost their lives in a shipwreck that was described as one of the most serious incidents involving migrants in the Mediterranean.
The Ocean Viking had been detained by Italian authorities for ten days in July, who alleged safety concerns with the vessel. It was subsequently authorized to resume its rescue operations on July 21.
