Updated | Cargo ship to take 270 stranded migrants to Italy
Rome-based Habeshia Agency says Maltese authorities already located boat carrying 270 asylum seekers
A cargo ship has picked up a group of 270 migrants found on a large dinghy some 90 miles off Malta.
The rescue took place last night after n Eritrean priest based in Rome informed the Maltese armed forces and Italian coastguard that the vessel, including women and children, and two pregnant women close to giving birth, had been stranded at sea for days.
The boatload of probable asylum seekers includes a boy who is seriously ill.
The priest, Moses Zerai, said he had informed the Italian and Maltese authorities to the presence of this vessel at 3:30pm on Monday.
"Italy and Malta are informed of the location of the vessel. Since yesterday afternoon, Malta has taken responsibility for coordinating the rescue of these people, but until now have not been rescued," Zerai said.
"270 people spent the night in the vessel in the cold, and women who have recently given birth time are in serious trouble. This morning at 9:30am I was contacted by the refugees on board the vessel, and they told me that their situation has worsened their boat was taking in water, that they have no more food and drinking water, and that they were risking their lives," Zerai said.
The priest said that while the boat had been located by the Maltese authorities, he could not understand why the migrants had been left at sea all night. "We are talking about human lives, not a cargo container... the Maltese authorities last night told us they were proceeding to save these castaways, but the refugees are still there suspended between life and death."
Zerai said any lives lost at sea would be the responsibility of the Maltese authorities. He said a merchant vessel was alerted to the location of the vessel carrying the migrants, and that it was in contact with the authorities Maltese but no relief had been yet delivered.
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