Moments ago, ~23 people on a boat in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue zone reached out to #AlarmPhone. We immediately requested the Maltese and Italian authorities to launch a rescue operation. It is dark at sea, we hope rescue is coming.
We spoke to the people again who escaped from Zuwara in #Libya. They say that their engine stopped working. They are drifting and water is entering the boat!
@Armed_Forces_MT and @guardiacostiera: do not delay rescue!
The ~23 people are still at sea. #Italy and #Malta failed to rescue them yet - during a complete night. The people say that the engine is not working properly and that they are exhausted.
We ask the authorities to fulfil their obligation and to rescue them now!
The people in distress were able to reignite the engine and move on. They are close to Lampedusa now but MRCC Rome refuses responsibility. RCC Malta doesn't even answer the phone. "The sea is rough, we are scared", the people on board say. Stop non-assistance, rescue now!
Finally, after contact to the boat broke down, we confirm that the 23 people safely reached Lampedusa today. Once more they were needlessly left in distress for many hours. Authorities also failed to inform about their arrival - it is only due to relatives that we have certainty.
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