Mediterranean Sea – The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) rescue ship, Geo Barents, recovered the bodies of 11 individuals who perished while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The recovery operation was conducted on Friday and lasted nine hours.

The alert was initially raised by the crew of SeaBird, a rescue plane operated by the Sea Watch NGO, who spotted the bodies floating at sea. The Geo Barents promptly moved to the area and commenced the recovery operation.

Fulvia Conte, MSF’s rescue operations coordinator onboard Geo Barents, stated, “Yesterday, the Geo Barents, after carrying out two rescue operations of a small fibreglass boat and a dinghy with 109 people on board, recovered the dead bodies of eleven people at sea, thanks also to the support of the Sea Watch, Sea Bird.”

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting the perilous journey across the Central Mediterranean. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), between January 1 and June 1, 2024, 282 people died attempting this crossing, with an additional 449 recorded as missing. In the same period, 7,059 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya.

Conte emphasized the dire need for legal migration channels, stating, “People will always try to find a safe life, not so much a better life, but a safe life, and there should be legal channels to escape from absolutely inhuman situations.”

Data from the Italian Interior Ministry indicates a significant decrease in the number of migrants arriving in Italy compared to the previous year. As of Tuesday, 21,574 migrants had arrived in Italy by boat in 2024, compared to 51,628 during the same period in 2023.

This ongoing humanitarian crisis underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and comprehensive solutions to provide safe and legal pathways for those fleeing danger and seeking refuge.