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Mediterranean becomes refugee graveyard this Easter as Malta and Italy fail to act
Italy says coastguard will take Alan Kurdi's refugees to shore but fails to tell crew when or where this might happen

DISTRESS calls from at least four refugee boats were ignored by Europe’s maritime authorities this Easter. 

Between Good Friday and today, refugee hotline organisation Alarm Phone was in contact with four boats with an estimated 47, 55, 71 and 85 people on board. 

Despite the first two boats having been inside Malta’s search-and-rescue zone since Saturday, the authorities did not respond to their pleas for help.

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