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60 migrants die in the Mediterranean Sea

Source: Flickr, July 29, 2016 

While attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, about 60 migrants have died after the engine of their small dinghy broke down. 

On Wednesday, the dinghy was spotted by a ship belonging to the humanitarian organization, SOS Mediterranee. The humanitarian group was able to rescue 25 survivors who were showing signs of dehydration. 

The survivors told their rescuers they departed from Zawiya on the Libyan coast several days earlier. They had been adrift for four days without food or water.

According to the survivors, the victims are believed to have died from dehydration and hunger. The victims include women and at least one child. 

SOS Mediterranee stated that there were only male survivors, half of them boys.

The director of SOS Mediterranee, Valeria Taurino, stated that the situation on board was "disastrous."  The migrants on board were coming from Gambia, Mali, and Senegal, said Ms.Taurino.

The U.N. International Organization for Migration reports that 227 migrants have died on the Mediterranean route this year. 

Read more here and here

 

 

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