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Major rescue operation in Central Mediterranean saves over 1500 migrants

Xinhua, April 16, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) in the last 24 hours has rescued over 1500 migrants in the central Mediterranean, according to an MOAS statement on Sunday.

MOAS said since the early hours of Saturday, it had rescued and assisted nine boats that contained a total of an estimated 1,500-1,800 people. The migrants are being transported to Italy.

This weekend is the latest marker in the record-breaking escalation of the on-going humanitarian crisis at sea, MOAS said, after a further 2,074 migrants were rescued, also in the Central Mediterranean by various search-and-rescue (SAR) assets on Friday.

"Every day people continue to risk their lives while we, as civil society, stand witness," said Regina Catrambone, MOAS Co-Founder and Director.

This unprecedented situation serves as evidence of the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Central Mediterranean. Endit