Nearly 300 migrants rescued by Open Arms off Libya

The Address | Benghazi – Libya

TRIPOLI – The humanitarian ship Proactiva Open Arms has rescued nearly 300 migrants off Libya, said Friday the founder of the Spanish NGO.

“Only 24 hours after our arrival in the Mediterranean, Open Arms has rescued two boats on the high seas at the risk of drowning. More than 200 people, men, pregnant women, children, babies, ” tweeted Open Arms founder Oscar Camps.

A sólo 24 horas de nuestra llegada al #Med #OpenArms acaba de rescatar en alta mar a 2 barcas en peligro de naufragio. Más de 200 personas, hombres, mujeres embarazadas, niños, bebés. En el Mediterraneo no hay Navidad#united4med #Searesistance @amnesty @AmnistiaOnline @hrw @UN pic.twitter.com/2gziaMPp1E

— Oscar Camps (@campsoscar) December 21, 2018

He later announced the rescue of a third boat with “29 women, five children and 56 men” on board.

Tercera barca rescatada hoy. Esta vez 29 mujeres, 5 niños y 56 hombres algunes menores, señal del éxito de las políticas del silencio. O salvas vidas o callas sus muertes.#United4Med @UNICEFenEspanol @ACNURspain @amnistiaespana @hrw pic.twitter.com/7K92fLdbA0

— Oscar Camps (@campsoscar) December 21, 2018

Among those rescued is a newborn baby. His mother gave birth on a beach in Libya two days before they were rescued by Open Arms.

According to the Spanish NGO, the mother and her newborn have been evacuated by Coast Guard helicopter to Malta, however, the rest of the migrants remain on board of Open Arms ship.

Dio a luz hace dos días en una playa #Libia Han pasado casi 24h en el mar hasta que les hemos rescatado.Pero la odisea no termina aquí.Acabamos de solicitar a Malta la evacuación médica urgente del recién nacido. Su corta vida está en peligro.O salvas una vida o callas una muerte pic.twitter.com/S5S945U8YP

— Oscar Camps (@campsoscar) December 21, 2018

Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, stated via Twitter on Saturday that that migrants rescued by Open Arms will not be received by Italy, writing that his country’s ports are “closed”.

“Open Arms ship, NGO and Spanish flag, has collected 200 immigrants, calls for an Italian port after the refusal of Malta (which has rightly landed a woman and a child). Italian ports are CLOSED! For the traffickers of human beings and for those who help them, the game is over.”

🔴Nave Open Arms, Ong e bandiera spagnola, ha raccolto 200 immigrati, chiede un porto italiano dopo il rifiuto di Malta (che ha sbarcato, giustamente, una donna e un bambino).
I porti italiani sono CHIUSI!
Per i trafficanti di esseri umani e per chi li aiuta, la pacchia è finita.

— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) December 22, 2018

Open Arms founder, Oscar Camps, responded to Salvini’s remarks, and stated via Twitter, “Matteo Salvini, your rhetoric and your message, as everything in this life will end. But know that in a few decades your descendants will be ashamed of what you do and what you say.”

🕥Matteo Salvini, la tua retorica e il tuo messaggio, come tutto in questa vita finirà. Però sappi che tra qualche decennio i tuoi discendenti si vergogneranno di ciò che fai e che dici. https://t.co/i2CwjDn8BA

— Oscar Camps (@campsoscar) December 22, 2018