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African migrants aboard the Ocean Viking rescue ship screamed for joy on Friday as an EU deal was announced after a two-week stalemate at sea.
"Thank you!" they shouted as the adults raised their children in their arms and danced happily on the deck of the Norwegian-flagged ship, run by the charities MSF and SOS Mediterranee.
Some of the non-navigable inflatable boat pbadengers off the coast of Libya between 9 and 12 August promised never to return to their home country, after six European countries finally agreed to accept them.
Jay Berger, the MSF coordinator on board, planned to spread the news quietly after the rations were distributed.
But among tightly packaged migrants, no secret – especially that of this size – can be kept long.
They gathered towards him to hear him announce in English, then in French, the news that their sea odyssey was over.
Italy and Malta had refused entry to the pier of the Ocean Viking at the last of a series of interlaced migrant boats.
The tense atmosphere on the wooden bridge where rescuers slept has changed into euphoria in an instant.
"Thanks, Mom," said the youngsters kissing Mary Jo, the MSF nurse, who has been taking care of them since their rescue.
They hugged their saviors – Tanguy, Clement, Antonin, Basil, Eric and Alessandro – and held the five babies aboard in triumph.
"That made me cry, I cried," said Spanish sailor Marco, while crew member Jeremie agreed that "you'll never get used to" at the scenes. emotion when those who have been saved from the perilous Mediterranean crossing learn that they will land in Europe.
From cook to captain – a former truck driver from West Africa – all crew participated in the celebrations.
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the migrants would be transferred to naval ships, which would take them ashore.
But none of the migrants even thought of asking when or how the beginning of the next chapter of their lives would occur.
The details matter little to those fleeing violence and poverty, who only want "security, study and work" to help families.
As celebrations continued on board, relief charities applauded Ocean Viking's news via social media, but criticized the inability of European leaders to quickly manage conflict and poverty in Africa.
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