Bangladesh, Pakistan & Egypt Rescue 14Migrants – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk)
Crew members of the humanitarian rescue ship Ocean Viking provided first aid and evacuated 44 migrants stranded on a merchant vessel in international waters off the Libyan coast, the NGO SOS Mediterranee reported on Monday. The group, mostly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt, had first been rescued from an unsafe fiberglass boat and later transferred to the merchant ship before the Ocean Viking stepped in.
Libya, located about 300 kilometers from Italy, continues to be a key departure point in North Africa for migrants attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing. Despite repeated warnings from aid organizations about abuse, exploitation, and high risks of death, many migrants still attempt the journey.
Many leave Libya after spending months in detention centers or informal holding sites, often boarding overcrowded and unsafe boats run by smugglers. Rescue delays frequently leave survivors extremely weak and in poor health, aid groups say.
Francesco Creazzo, spokesperson for SOS Mediterranee, said the rescued migrants were in serious distress when found. “These 44 people, mainly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt, reportedly departed from Benghazi five or six days ago. They are now safe aboard the Ocean Viking and recovering,” he explained. Creazzo added that many were exhausted, dehydrated, and some were unable to walk.
The Ocean Viking, an ambulance ship operated by SOS Mediterranee, regularly conducts search-and-rescue missions in the central Mediterranean, one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. According to international organizations, thousands of people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean over the past decade while attempting to reach Europe.
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Earlier incidents have also seen Pakistani migrants perish in shipwrecks off Italy, Tunisia and Libya, highlighting the persistent risks faced by people attempting irregular sea crossings to Europe. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly urged citizens not to undertake the journey, while international agencies warn that smugglers continue to exploit economic hardship and conflict to lure migrants onto unsafe boats.
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