NGO says group threatened migrants in Mediterranean rescue

Doctors Without Borders says 112 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean were threatened by armed men, according to Africa News and agencies on November 29th. The group said the armed men then sped away with women and children while dozens of boys and men jumped into the sea.

Geo Barents, the group’s boat, arrived at the scene off the coast of Libya on November 28th, rescuing 83 men and unaccompanied minors, of whom 70 were plucked from the sea. There were no reports of fatalities.

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Armed men on two speedboats identifying as Libyan coast guard were spotted nearby.

A boat had taken on board 24 women and four children, and the Geo Barents crew were told that they would be handed over following the rescue of the men. But according to Doctors Without Borders, this vessel then sped away.

It said that one of the rescued men, whose wife and children were taken away, claimed the armed men had stopped the migrant vessel by firing into the air and into the water.

The man told rescuers that the armed men had pushed him back when he tried to get onto their speedboat, and only took women and children.

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Doctors Without Borders appealed to all competent authorities and organizations to reunite the families, adding that Libya was not a safe place.

It denounced the aggression on November 28th as “unacceptable”, saying it had put many people in danger and separated families.

The United Nations reports that 2,124 migrants have died in 2024 while attempting to make the perilous Central Mediterranean crossing.

Africa News