ROME – German sea rescue organizations have pulled over 200 migrants from perilous journeys across the central Mediterranean in recent days, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis and raising concerns about the long distances assigned to disembarkation ports.
Sea-Watch 5, one of the vessels involved, rescued 119 people, including 32 unaccompanied minors as young as 3 years old, in two separate operations. These survivors arrived at the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara on Thursday, but the organization sharply criticized Italian authorities for assigning them a destination over 1,150 kilometers away from the rescue site.
“There is no silent night when people have to try to flee across the sea in search of safety,” Anne Dekker, head of operations on board the Sea-Watch 5, stated.
Meanwhile, Sea-Eye, another German aid group, rescued 106 people on Tuesday, including dozens of minors, from two unseaworthy boats south of Lampedusa. The Sea-Eye 4 is now en route to Brindisi in southern Italy, where they are expected to arrive on Friday.