Migrant Hotline Tells Malta: ‘Seven Children Are In Distress Within Your Search And Rescue Zone’
Alarm Phone, a support hotline for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea, has urged Malta to rescue a group of 32 people, including many children, who are on a boat inside its search and rescue zone.
Breaking: Boat in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue zone! At 17.25h CEST we were alerted to a boat with 32 people on board. Maltese authorities are informed. Immediate rescue needed!
— Alarm Phone (@alarm_phone) September 29, 2019
We lost contact to the boat about 6 hours ago. The authorities of #Malta refuse to give out information on rescue proceedings. The people on board told us there are 7 children & 2 pregnant women on the boat. Leaving them at sea for a night will endanger their lives! #safepassage pic.twitter.com/GSrUBJv6PK
— Alarm Phone (@alarm_phone) September 29, 2019
In a tweet yesterday, the hotline said it has been alerted to a boat in distress in Malta’s search and rescue zone and that it had promptly informed the Maltese authorities of the need to rescue them.
A few hours later, it said the people on board have told them there are seven children and two pregnant women on board but that the Maltese authorities are refusing to give out information on rescue proceedings.
At 9.15h CEST we talked to the people on the boat again. They are still in distress in #Malta SAR zone – since yesterday no action has been taken to rescue them. About 32 lives, including many children, are in danger. We demand immediate rescue! #safepassage pic.twitter.com/NcvT1mRbWX
— Alarm Phone (@alarm_phone) September 30, 2019
This morning, Alarm Phone again pressured Malta to rescue the migrants.
“At 9:15 CET, we spoke to the people on the boat again they are still in distress in Malta’s search and rescue zone – since yesterday no action has been taken to rescue them,” it said. “About 32 lives, including many children, are in danger. We demand immediate rescue! #Safepassage.”
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