Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

440 migrants saved from boat off the coast of Malta: MSF

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Apr 2023 09:58
3 Min Read

Doctors Without Border's ship Geo Barents rescues migrants from the Mediterranean who are seeking a better life in Europe.

  • x
  • Speed boats launched from MSF's ‘Geo Barents’, head towards ship of migrants to complete a rescue mission, 4 April 2023. @MSF_Sea Twitter
    Speed boats launched from MSF's ‘Geo Barents’, head toward a ship of migrants to complete a rescue mission, 4 April 2023. (MSF Sea/Twitter)

Following an 11-hour operation, 440 migrants were rescued from a boat off Malta, as reported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Wednesday.

MSF’s ship Geo Barents received a distress signal while heading to shelter in the Mediterranean. The crew of Geo Barnets responded to the signal and ensued on a 10-hour trip until they finally reached the source.

The team arrived on site at 4:00 am on Tuesday but was unable to complete the rescue mission due to bad weather.

"Unfortunately, the weather did not allow our team to directly perform the rescue, which could have endangered the lives of the people and those of the MSF team," as reported by the organization.

As the weather cleared up, Geo Barents was able to send its speed boats to the vessel by early afternoon. MSF added that during that time, life jackets were distributed to all passengers on the rescued vessel.

🟢 After more than 11 hours of operation, the rescue is now over and a total of 440 people, including 8 women and 30 children, are now safely aboard #GeoBarents and being cared for by the team. pic.twitter.com/f2IFMbwstQ

— MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) April 4, 2023=

A total of 440 people, including 8 women and 30 children, were rescued by MSF.

Rescue teams are facing operational difficulties following the Italian government’s new regulations on life-saving missions. The Geo Barents was detained by Italian authorities in February for allegedly breaking new government rules.

The Italian government accused MSF of failing to share information, such as voyage data recorder information on the position and movement of the ship. 

Related News

Sudan crisis worsens: Cholera outbreak claims dozens in Darfur

Gaza crisis worsens amid surge in deadly antibiotic-resistant diseases

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, took office in October after promising to curb the number of migrants landing in Italy.

The new law, imposed by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government, obliges NGO ships to perform 1 rescue at a time.

However, charities only rescue a small percentage of migrant vessels crossing from Africa to Europe. Most are detained by coast guard or Navy vessels.

The far-right government accuses charities of encouraging further migration to the European continent and benefiting people traffickers.

Asylum seekers coming from North Africa made Italy their prime destination due to its close proximity to the African continent. 

Tunisia has become a hotspot of 'illegal' migration due to high inflation rates and the inability to secure the IMF's $2 billion bail-out package.

Emmanuel Macron asked for the help of the Tunisian government to help subside the huge influx of migrants escaping the dreads of a failing economy in their country.

In late March, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said, "For two months we have been saying, in all international forums: we must help Tunisia with financing from the IMF and the World Bank, giving at least the first aid pending reforms and verification of progress." 

PM Giorgia Meloni warned that Tunisia's "serious financial problems" risked sparking a "migratory wave" toward Europe.

The bodies of 29 migrants from sub-Saharan African countries, on March 26, were recovered by the Tunisian coast guard after three boats capsized, adding to the death tally of global south residents seeking a better life in Europe.

  • Doctors Without Borders
  • MSF
  • migrants
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • Giorgia Meloni

Most Read

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
UKLFI’s latest faux pas, like "Israel’s" recent failed attempt at regime change in Iran, is unambiguously indicative of a flailing entity on the verge of extinction. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Zionist lawfare operation facing collapse?

  • Opinion
  • 13 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS