A CHARITY rescue ship saved the lives of 43 people stranded in the Mediterranean today after twice witnessing the EU-supported Libyan coastguard intercept refugee boats over the weekend. The Mare Jonio, a rescue ship operated by Italian non-governmental organisation Mediterranea Saving Humans, picked up the refugees 40 miles north of the Libyan coast following an eventful few days. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) later reported that 93 migrants were returned to al-Khums. “Among them was a woman who gave birth on the rubber dinghy,” the IOM said in a tweet on Saturday morning. “The Mare Jonio has been approached several times by a patrol boat of the so-called Libyan coastguard who said they’re looking for a boat with migrants on board,” the charity’s post read.

Source: Libya Today June 29, 2020 16:41 UTC