According to the IOM, around 600 people have died so far this year trying to make the crossing to Europe from Libya.
The rescue ship has been back at sea for a week after it was detained by the Italian authorities in May, partly for technical defects. It was allowed to go to a Spanish port for repair and was allowed to leave last week by the Spanish authorities.
Prevent rescue
MSF says Italy is abusing maritime laws to detain rescue ships. The aid agency says in response to the capture of the Sea-Watch 4, the fifth ship in less than five months.
This prevents rescue ships from saving lives in the Mediterranean. The Sea-Watch 4 rescued 354 people on its first rescue mission – men, women, young people traveling alone, the disabled and children, the youngest of whom were less than two years old, MSF said.
Many needed medical treatment. “The violence people have escaped from and the dangers of the journey they have to take in search of safety is borne out by the injuries we have seen.” As examples, the aid organization gives a boy who has become deaf from the blows to his head from armed men and a man who has scars from burnt plastic he sustained in Libya.
“It is heartbreaking to see European governments do everything in their power to prevent these vulnerable people from receiving life-saving care.”
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