Malta allows the Ocean Viking to disembark its 356 rescued migrants

Britain / 23 August 2019

European states must take a hard look at the role they are playing in trapping people at sea, says MSF's project co-ordinator on board the ship

MSF and SOS Mediterrannee's Ocean Viking

Ben Cowles

Web Editor

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MIGRANT rescue ship the Ocean Viking finally reached land today, disembarking over 300 men, women and children in Malta who had spent two weeks stranded in the Mediterranean.

The crew of the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SOS Mediterranee ship saved the lives of 356 migrants off the coast of Libya in three separate rescue missions two weeks ago.

UPDATE: 356 survivors rescued in the #Mediterranean are now being transferred from the #OceanViking to #Malta on board a maltese military vessel.

After nearly 2 weeks stranded at sea, a coalition of #EU countries finally stepped up to grant them a place of #safety pic.twitter.com/xh5Nrf1foX
— MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) August 23, 2019

BREAKING: After 14 days of unnecessary suffering all 356 people onboard #OceanViking will finally disembark to #Malta

While some #EU States finally stepped up with a humane response to this humanitarian disaster in the Med, a predictable disembarkation mechanism is needed now! pic.twitter.com/t2rTfKL4Wi
— MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) August 23, 2019

Partita la missione 4/2019. #MareJonio è di nuovo nel cuore del Mediterraneo! [Segue nel thread il comunicato] pic.twitter.com/0rIlm7kALL
— Mediterranea Saving Humans (@RescueMed) August 23, 2019

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