WATCH: Heavily-Pregnant Woman Airlifted From Rescue Ship In Emergency Operation By AFM
A nine-month pregnant Nigerian woman was evacuated by helicopter airlift from the Ocean Viking in an emergency operation conducted by the Armed Forces of Malta.
The woman was reportedly in need of urgent medical attention after developing “serious medical complications”, according to SOS Mediterannee, an NGO. The woman and her husband safely landed in Malta at around 8.00pm last night after being picked up by the AFM’s helicopter.
UPDATE A nine-month pregnant woman and her husband have just been evacuated from the #OceanViking to #Malta after the woman developed serious medical complications.
We have once again requested a Place of safety for a prompt disembarkation of the remaining 82 survivors. pic.twitter.com/Rn0ffmy7fE— SOS MEDITERRANEE (@SOSMedIntl) September 11, 2019
SOS Mediterranee operates the Ocean Viking, and is currently looking for a safe harbour with 82 other migrants still on board.
The ship said that while Libya had offered them a safe port, they did not consider Libya to be a place of safety for the migrants.
“We have requested an alternative that meets the requirements of international law,” the NGO said.
The migrants currently aboard the Ocean Viking were rescued off the Libyan coast on Sunday. 12 children are believed to be aboard the ship.