Another tragic shipwreck in the Mediterranean: 130 dead and accusations at the EU

ROMA – At least 130 people died in a new shipwreck in the Mediterranean, which once again put on the table indifference to the unresolved drama of hundreds of thousands of desperate migrants trying to set foot in Europe.

The umpteenth tragedy, which took place this Wednesday a few kilometers north of the Libyan coast and occurred today, resulted in very serious accusations from various NGOs who tried to save the migrants. In a message via Twitter, Sea Watch accused the European Union (EU) and Frontex, the bloc’s coast guard, from failing to help a wrecked inflatable boat in the middle of a storm: “They knew about the emergency, but they refused help. The Ocean Viking ship only arrived at the scene to find ten bodies. “

“We literally find ourselves navigating among the corpses”Alessandro Porro, rescuer of the Ocean Viking, a ship of the NGO Sos Mediterranee, said that this Friday, with three merchant ships, he saw dozens of lifeless bodies and the remains of a gray rubber boat. It is one of the three ships for which the Alarm Phone central 48 hours before had relayed a request for assistance which was ignored by the Libyan maritime authorities, despite the fact that it was in his region, northeast of Tripoli. The migrants who launched the SOS, amidst a storm and waves over six meters high, said there were 130 people in the inflatable boat.

In a terrible testimony, Porro pointed out that the search had been made “Without the help of the States”.

“If an airliner had fallen, navies in half of Europe would have participated, but they were only migrants, fertilizer for the Mediterranean cemeteryHe commented, without hiding his indignation.

Safa Mseheli, spokesperson for the United Nations International Organization for Migrants (IOM), agreed: “States have become inert and refused to act to save the lives of more than 100 people. They implored and launched emergency appeals for two days, before sinking in the blue cemetery of the Mediterranean, “he denounced on Twitter.” Is this the heritage of Europe? “He asked.

Ocean Viking, according to the newspaper The Republic, continues to search for bodies and possible survivors of another boat with 40 migrants that she has also been missing since Wednesday, when the weather conditions were terrible. A second rubber band, on the other hand, was intercepted by the Libyan authorities and taken back.

Amidst the agitation and denunciations of humanitarian organizations for the lack of aid, the new tragedy in the Mediterranean has had a strong impact on the nest of the Italian political hornet.

Former interior minister and right-wing and xenophobic La Liga leader Matteo Salvini, famous for shutting down Italy’s ports at the time to NGO ships saving migrants, did not abstain to create controversy. “No more deaths, no more blood on the conscience of the “ good guys ” which, in fact, invite and facilitate human traffickers and encourage the launching of old ships, even in bad weather. A prayer and a lot of anger, ”he tweeted.

Lia Quartapelle, from the Center-Left Democratic Party (PD), expressed her dismay and raised the need for concrete action. “It is not enough to say ‘never again’ in the face of a shipwreck that killed 130 people in the Mediterranean. If, as Europeans, we want to live up to the values ​​we preach, that speculation be avoided and that European humanitarian corridors be opened to prevent massacres at sea“He asked.

Nicola Frantoianni, of the Italian left, also deplored a tragedy which could have been avoided, which defined an “umpteenth shame for Europe, but also for our country”. “Dear President Draghi, do you still think the Libyan Coast Guard should be grateful?” He asked, referring to Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s recent trip to Libya.

“The 24 hours before the sinking of 130 people in the central Mediterranean are an insult to humanity and the value of the lives of men and women, ”said Erasmo Palazzotto, of Libres e Iguales, who joined the chorus of NGOs who denounced dozens of unheard-of calls for help. “Frontex which does not intervene and a shameful transfer of responsibility between the Libyan, Italian and European authorities. Women, men and children left dying on the high seas, between six-meter waves and left drowned, ”he lamented, announcing that he will present an urgent consultation request to the government to clarify the responsibilities of the government. ‘Italy in the drama.