A Spanish Organization Rescues 117 Refugees in the Mediterranean Sea

The Spanish charity organization 'Open Arms' announced that it has rescued 117 migrants who were traveling from Libya in an unsafe wooden boat across the dangerous Mediterranean passage. Last week, the sinking of a fishing boat off the coast of Greece resulted in the deaths of at least 78 people among hundreds of its passengers, once again highlighting the peril faced by thousands of migrants fleeing poverty and conflict from Africa and the Middle East each year. In a statement, 'Open Arms' reported that the 117 individuals, including 25 women and a 3-year-old boy, primarily from Eritrea, Sudan, and Libya, were rescued after hours of searching. A spokesperson for the charity stated that the rescue operation took place in international waters, 30 kilometers off the Libyan coast, after the boat departed from the port of Sabratha at 1 AM. The charity indicated that all passengers are undergoing medical evaluations but did not provide further details regarding their transfer location. The United Nations has recorded over 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014. The International Organization for Migration released statistics earlier this month showing that nearly 3,800 people lost their lives during migration from the Middle East and North Africa last year, marking the highest recorded figure in the region since 2017. Nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the capsizing of the refugee boat; hundreds are still missing. The search for the sunken vessel carrying hundreds of refugees in the Mediterranean continues.