AFTER a weekend in which the EU-supported Libyan Coastguard intercepted close to 1,500 refugees as they tried to flee the country, over 400 others made it to safety on the opposite side of the Mediterranean today thanks to an NGO rescue ship.  

In just 48 hours from last Thursday morning, the crew of the Ocean Viking saved the lives of 424 people in rubber boats adrift in the central Mediterranean.

A pregnant woman in a critical medical condition and her partner were evacuated from the ship on Saturday by the Armed Forces of Malta. The two later tested positive for Covid-19.