Nearly sixty migrants were taken to Malta on the evening of April 17 after being rescued from the rough sea as they attempted to cross to Europe. In particular, merchant vessels in Malta's search and rescue zone saved two groups; Malta's Armed Forces brought the people to the Marsaxlokk village.
The wind had picked up over the weekend, making their voyage incredibly challenging. Many people, some barefoot, were taken to Detention Services vans on arrival. Their nationalities are yet to be identified.
Over 26,000 people have passed away or gone missing in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea since 2014, the UN Human Rights Office reported on April 13.
UN Rights Chief @volker_turk is alarmed by precarious situation for asylum-seekers/migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean. Sharp rise in numbers demands enhanced responsibility sharing. He calls for swift rescues &thorough processing at safe locations: https://t.co/P5SZL5m5rl pic.twitter.com/1fCr7SLjPQ
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 13, 2023
'Since 2014, over 26,000 people have died or gone missing crossing the Mediterranean, including over 20,000 along the Central Mediterranean route, which is considered among the deadliest migration routes in the world', the message reads.