The German NGO Sea-Watch reported on Monday that one migrant drowned and three others were rescued in the Mediterranean after their dinghy capsized during a confrontation with the Libyan coast guard off the country’s coast.
According to the organization, a Libyan patrol boat intercepted a dinghy carrying around 30 migrants on Sunday, intending to return them to Libya. When the boat attempted to flee, rough waves caused four people to fall into the sea. Sea-Watch, which documented the incident from one of its aircraft, said that one person drowned while three survivors were initially picked up by a nearby merchant vessel before being handed back to Libyan coast guard patrols.
This person was basically abandoned at sea and drowned in front of our crew’s eyes,” Sea-Watch spokesperson Giorgia Linardi told The Associated Press. She added that incidents of this nature are frequent in waters controlled by Libya, though this one was unusual because it was captured on video. Tripoli’s government and the Libyan coast guard did not comment on the report.
The tragedy comes just weeks after another confrontation involving the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5. Earlier this month, the vessel was threatened by a Libyan militia boat while rescuing 66 migrants. Linardi said the rescue mission was completed safely, but the crew was ordered to leave the area, and a shot was fired shortly after.
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