Malta fears 71 migrants drowned
As many as 71 African migrants drowned after their boat sank in the Mediterranean, 8 of their companions told Maltese police.
Thursday, 28.08.2008.
14:00
As many as 71 African migrants drowned after their boat sank in the Mediterranean, 8 of their companions told Maltese police. The survivors were rescued by a fishing vessel from a semi-submerged dinghy about 70km off Malta, then handed over to a Maltese military boat. Malta fears 71 migrants drowned The ship and a military aircraft searched the area for other survivors but none were found, the police said. Malta - the smallest EU member state - is a leading destination for migrants. More than 1,000 have managed to reach the island so far this year, mainly from North Africa. On Sunday, more than 100 were brought ashore in two separate operations off the Maltese coast. The last major loss of life off Malta's coast came in May 2007, when a small boat adrift went missing with at least 53 migrants on board. "Notwithstanding that they know about [previous] tragedies, these desperate people still try and make the journey to Europe," Neil Falzon, a representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malta, told the AFP news agency. Falzon said that if the number of fatalities was confirmed, it would serve to highlight "the need for assistance to these people". In June, the European Parliament passed a controversial set of EU rules for dealing with illegal migrants, which allow those caught to be detained for up to 18 months and face a five-year re-entry ban. Lawmakers backed the measures by a large majority despite opposition from many Socialist and Green parties, and condemnation from human rights groups.
Malta fears 71 migrants drowned
The ship and a military aircraft searched the area for other survivors but none were found, the police said.Malta - the smallest EU member state - is a leading destination for migrants.
More than 1,000 have managed to reach the island so far this year, mainly from North Africa. On Sunday, more than 100 were brought ashore in two separate operations off the Maltese coast.
The last major loss of life off Malta's coast came in May 2007, when a small boat adrift went missing with at least 53 migrants on board.
"Notwithstanding that they know about [previous] tragedies, these desperate people still try and make the journey to Europe," Neil Falzon, a representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malta, told the AFP news agency.
Falzon said that if the number of fatalities was confirmed, it would serve to highlight "the need for assistance to these people".
In June, the European Parliament passed a controversial set of EU rules for dealing with illegal migrants, which allow those caught to be detained for up to 18 months and face a five-year re-entry ban.
Lawmakers backed the measures by a large majority despite opposition from many Socialist and Green parties, and condemnation from human rights groups.
0 Komentari
Možda vas zanima
"Zbogom bankomati": Uveden novi sistem isplate
Podizanje gotovine za kupovinu postaje sve popularnije među potrošačima u Nemačkoj. Ukupni obim gotovinskih plaćanja prošle godine je porastao 20 odsto na 12,31 milijardu evra.
13:19
18.4.2024.
13 h
Bure baruta pred eksplozijom: Počinje veliki rat?
Bliski istok, zbog promene ravnoteže snaga i dubokih kriza, pre svega palestinsko-izraelske, može se smatrati buretom baruta i ima potencijal da dovede ne samo do regionalnog sukoba, već i do globalnog konflikta.
20:40
17.4.2024.
1 d
Rat – dan 784: Rusi aktivirali PVO; Oboreni "vampiri"
Rat u Ukrajini dan – 784.
23:33
17.4.2024.
1 d
Uništeno; Zelenski: Hvala na preciznosti
U ukrajinskom napadu na vojni aerodrom na Krimu u sredu ozbiljno su oštećena četiri lansera raketa, tri radarske stanice i druga oprema, saopštila je danas Ukrajinska vojna obaveštajna agencija.
14:21
18.4.2024.
12 h
Mediji: Ultimatum za Srbiju
Višegodišnja dilema "Kosovo ili Evropska unija", koja je lebdela nad Srbijom, dobiće svoj praktični izraz sledeće nedelje, pišu mediji.
13:01
17.4.2024.
1 d
Komentari 0