The people on board the fishing vessel Nostra Madre di Loreto are in critical condition. The ships of Mediterranea and Open Arms, on site for several hours, asked Malta for an immediate evacuation of one of the survivors who was at that point already in a state of unconsciousness. At late hour, a Maltese helicopter finally flew him out.
The other 11 people, however, are still on the cutter, for now more than a week already. The organizations of United4Med, Mediterranea, Open Arms and Sea Watch ask European governments to take responsibility for what is happening at present and to find a shared solution to ensure that these people can safely disembark in a safe harbor and receive the assistance necessary for their conditions.
Weather conditions, already very bad these days, are likely to worsen quickly which is threatening the stability of the boat, exposing crew and survivors to further risks.
In addition to the crew, there are 11 people in precarious health conditions on board the vessel, including 2 minors, who survived a shipwreck and who show visible signs of torture, inflicted in Libyan detention camps.
We cannot allow European government’s inability of finding solutions to risk these people’s lives. We strongly demand that Spain, Malta and Italy agree to find a safe harbour in the shortest possible time. At the same time we call on the rest of Europe to take responsibility and to offer redistribution of those rescued to enable a quick solution. Multiple cities already offered to take in people rescued at sea, the humanitarian blockade by state governments at the expense of those in distress has to end.
