Malta rescues 76 migrants fleeing Libya, one dies
June 2nd, 2011 - 12:45 am ICT by BNO NewsVALLETTA, MALTA (BNO NEWS) — A man died on a boat that was rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta on Wednesday off the coast of the Mediterranean island, the Times of Malta reported.
Yesterday, NATO informed Maltese authorities of the presence of the boat, which was carrying 76 migrants from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Chad. The migrants included eight women, one of whom is pregnant.
A Maltese military aircraft located the boat this morning about 75 miles off Malta, which appeared to have left from Misurata, Libya, on Saturday.
Last month, a group of 320 migrants was also rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta. Senior military sources said that there were a number of Libyan families who were fleeing their war-torn country. Egyptian and Bangladeshi workers, who have been stranded in Libya, and a number of women, children, and babies were also aboard.
The North African country has been marred with violence since February after protests emerged against the long-standing regime of Muammar Gadaffi. NATO took control of foreign military operations in Libya on March 31 under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorizes member states to take ‘all necessary measures’ to protect civilians in the country.
The ongoing civil war between rebels and forces loyal to Gaddafi has so far claimed at least 2,000 lives since unrest began. Other estimates put the death toll from all sides, including civilians, at up to 10,000. An estimated 615,000 people have fled the country so far, with more than 10,000 evacuated from the troubled city of Misrata.
- 54 Africans died at sea during voyage to Italy - Jul 11, 2012
- Libyan embassy in Washington re-opens under rebel government - Aug 12, 2011
- Attacks on civilians in Misrata may be war crimes, says UN - Apr 21, 2011
- UN: attacks against civilians in Misrata, Libya may be international crimes - Apr 20, 2011
- Gaddafi loyalists using civilians as human shields to safeguard weapons from airstrikes: NATO - Apr 06, 2011
- US' first unmanned Predator attack destroys Libyan govt. multiple rocket launcher - Apr 24, 2011
- Libyan army may allow tribes to fight rebels in Misrata - Apr 23, 2011
- 'Voluptuous' Gaddafi nurse seeks asylum in Norway - May 06, 2011
- Over 1000 Indians evacuated from Libya today - Mar 03, 2011
- NATO halts Gaddafi boats laying mines outside Misurata - Apr 30, 2011
- Gaddafi's daughter denies fleeing her country - Feb 25, 2011
- Hundreds of Libyan refugees feared dead after ship sinks off Libya - May 10, 2011
- Gaddafi's forces recapture Misurata - Mar 17, 2011
- 115 immigrants rescued off Malta - Aug 16, 2009
- Gaddafi forces carry on shelling rebels in Misrata - Apr 04, 2011
Tags: armed forces of malta, bangladeshi workers, bno, gadaffi, ivory coast, mediterranean island, migrants, military aircraft, military operations, military sources, misurata libya, muammar, nations security council, necessary measures, security council resolution, sierra leone, times of malta, united nations security, united nations security council, valletta malta