Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) provided several hours of assistance to Italy’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) yesterday, conducting the rescue of approximately 700 migrants, Malta Today reports.
Migrants, mostly Syrian, Palestinians, and Eritreans, among them a two-day old infant, were intercepted in MOAS-Rome coordinated action in the Mediterranean.
MOAS’ ship Phoenix was involved in two operations yesterday. At around 6:40 a.m. while on patrol, the crew spotted a boat in distress carrying around 300 migrants. MRCC Rome was immediately contacted, and the orders were to immediately intercept the vessel.
At 11:20 a.m. MOAS aided in the rescue operation of a wooden boat with 400 migrants on board.
The migrants included a number of refugees from Damaskus who reportedly sold all their possessions to take the trip.
One of those rescued said he had sold his house and car and spent USD 15,000 to get his family away from the conflict.