We are in contact with 2 boats in distress with ~70 & ~110 people on board fleeing war and violence in #Libya. They are both in critical conditions in #Malta SAR zone & were spotted by #Moonbird from the air. Merchant vessel #Cosmo is nearby. @Armed_Forces_MT intervene now!
The merchant vessel #Cosmo is on standby and we fear the intervention of the so-called Libyan Coastguards, and an illegal pushback to the Libyan warzone.
The people should be rescued quickly and disembarked in the closest place of safety in #Europe.
Libya is not a safe port!
Malta has taken responsibility and is coordinating rescue by the merchant vessel #Cosmo over the radio. It is now Malta's duty to provide a place of safety in Europe.
The boat with ~70 people appears to have been captured by the so called Libyan Coastguards in Maltese Search & Rescue zone & illegally pushed-back to Libya. EU authorities were informed of the distress. Now the people are being returned to a place where war is raging.
Despite the illegal push back of the ~70 people, we are relieved that the Italian flagged merchant vessel #Cosmo bravely rescued the other boat with ~110 people in distress. They now need to be disembarked without delay at a place of safety in Europe.
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