Search and rescue charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) is deeply saddened by yet another tragedy at sea which has resulted in hundreds of lives being lost. MOAS, which operates the search and rescue vessel M.Y. Phoenix, has helped rescue almost 9,000 people since setting sail late last year.
“This incident tragically underlines the urgency to have even more search and rescue assets in the Mediterranean Sea which has become the most dangerous border crossing in the world. Men, women and children who are desperately fleeing war and persecution are being crammed onto unseaworthy boats by unscrupulous smugglers where many of them end up drowning or dying of heat exhaustion or asphyxiation. While a number of assets have been deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to alleviate the crisis, more support is needed,” said MOAS director Martin Xuereb from aboard the Phoenix.
Last night MOAS participated in the search for survivors using its Schiebel Camcopter S-100 drones and was then directed to assist in two other rescue operations.