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A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 13 august 2018

Aid group: Ships not willing to save Mediterranean migrants

By FRANCES D’EMILIO fore they were rescued by
Associated Press Aquarius.” Aboard Aquar-
ROME (AP) — Migrants in ius is Doctors Without Bor-
distress at sea have told ders project coordinator,
their rescuers that several Aloys Vimard, who elabo-
ships passed them by with- rated. “It seems the very
out offering assistance, a principle of rendering as-
European aid group said sistance to persons in dis-
Sunday while seeking safe tress at sea is now at stake.
harbor for a rescue vessel Ships might be unwilling to
with 141 migrants aboard. respond to those in distress
SOS Mediterranee in a due to the high risk of be-
statement said that due to ing stranded and denied a
the recent refusal of Italy place of safety,” the state-
and Malta to let rescue ment quoted Vimard as
vessels carrying migrants saying. SOS Mediterranee
dock, ships might be now said many of those aboard
unwilling to get involved were extremely week and
fearing they will be strand- malnourished. Those res-
ed with migrants aboard cued in recent years have
and denied a port to dis- said they receive scanty
embark them. On Friday rations while kept in Libya
the group’s chartered ship to await the opportunity
Aquarius, which it operates The Open Arms Search and Rescue vessel arrives in Algeciras, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. to leave on human smug-
in partnership with Doctors Associated Press glers’ unseaworthy boats.
Without Borders, rescued nied minors, were rescued group aid. Sunday in hopes of receiv- “What is of utmost impor-
141 people in waters off later that day, it said. It added that Libya’s res- ing docking permission tance is that the survivors
Libya. Of these, 25 were Nearly three-quarters of cue coordination authori- from another country. are brought to a place of
found adrift on a small those rescued originate ties wouldn’t provide the SOS Mediterranee said safety without delay, where
wooden boat that had no from Somalia and Eritrea. Aquarius with “a place of that “in a disturbing devel- their basic needs can be
motor and was believed Many migrants recounted safety” and asked it to re- opment, rescued people met and where they can be
to have been at sea for how they were “held in quest safe harbor from an- on board told out teams protected from abuse,” the
about 35 hours, the group inhumane conditions in other country’s authorities. they encountered five dif- group quoted Nick Roma-
said. The other 116 people, Libya,” where human traf- The Aquarius was sailing ferent ships which did not niuk, its search and rescue
including 67 unaccompa- fickers are based, the aid north in the Mediterranean offer them assistance be- coordinator as saying.q
Manchester police say 10 people injured in shooting

Associated Press for pellet-type wounds suf- injured to seek treatment.
LONDON (AP) — Ten peo- fered in the shooting, which “This was a reckless act that
ple, including two children, was reported at about 2:30 could have had devastat-
were injured early Sunday a.m. Sunday. “Thankfully ing consequences with
morning when shots were the injuries suffered do not families and friends losing
fired after a Caribbean appear to be as serious as loved ones.”
carnival in the northern first believed, and hope- He later added the working
English city of Manchester. fully people will begin to hypothesis of authorities is
Greater Manchester police leave hospital over the that the pellets came from
said one man is in stable course of the day following a shotgun discharge. “How
but serious condition at a treatment,” Chief Superin- many times it has been dis-
local hospital with injuries tendent Wasim Chaudhry charged isn’t clear at this
to his legs. The other nine said in a statement, urging stage and forms part of our Police officers at the scene in Claremont Road in Manchester
people are being treated anyone else who may be investigation,” he said.q after a shooting Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. Associated Press