More than 30 migrants, including children, are stranded on an oil rig off Tunisia, facing dire conditions as they lack food and medical assistance. Sea-Watch and Alarm Phone report one death among the group and urge immediate rescue efforts from European authorities, amid criticisms of immigration interception agreements.
Over 30 migrants, including two children, are stranded on the Miskar oil platform off Tunisia, according to the charity Sea-Watch. These individuals have been trapped for three days and are urgently in need of assistance. A reconnaissance plane from Sea-Watch identified the group on Saturday, finding them huddled on the platform deck under blankets to escape the harsh weather, with an empty rubber dinghy floating nearby.
Alarm Phone, a group dedicated to assisting sea migrants, reported that they had spoken to the stranded individuals and noted alarming conditions, including sickness among the migrants and the unfortunate death of one person. The group expressed concerns about the migrants being without food for several days. Sea-Watch indicated that these individuals had initially fled from Libya and called for European authorities to intervene promptly to rescue them.
European governments, in their effort to control irregular immigration, have established agreements with Tunisia and Libya to intercept and return migrants. This approach has faced criticism from various human rights organizations that emphasize the need for humane treatment of displaced individuals.
The situation of over 30 stranded migrants off the coast of Tunisia is dire, prompting urgent pleas for assistance from humanitarian organizations. The harsh conditions they face highlight the ongoing challenges of immigration across the Mediterranean. The response of European authorities remains critical in addressing this humanitarian crisis while balancing immigration policies.
Original Source: www.sowetanlive.co.za
