Egyptian Ship Rescues 75 Migrants Off Libya, Seeks Port in Tunisia

The migrants were taken on board the Egyptian ship, named Maridive 601, this Friday. 75 migrants in total, rescued in international waters. The ship’s captain would have, 3 days later, asked Tunisia to let him dock, as the food supplies will not last much longer and some migrants are sick.

It should be noted, as explained by Le Monde, that "this incident comes as the ships of the European anti-smuggling operation ’Sophia’ have ceased to intervene in the Mediterranean Sea, while humanitarian ships face legal and administrative obstacles".

Speaking to AFP, the captain, one Faouz Samir, says: "I urgently ask the Tunisian authorities to allow us to enter the port of Zarzis." The latter also claims that the migrants’ health condition is "poor" and that "many are affected by scabies".

A local Red Crescent official, Mongi Slim, also told AFP: "Four people are in a condition that requires medical intervention and most of them are affected by infectious scabies." He would have been allowed to board.

Among the migrants there would be 64 Bangladeshis, 9 Egyptians, one Moroccan and one Sudanese. And at least 32 are unaccompanied minors. The ship and its passengers would urgently need "water, food, clothing, blankets and especially medical assistance".

It should be noted that the Maridive 601 usually serves to supply oil platforms between Tunisia and Italy.