Newest challenge for Europe's refugee crisis: crewless migrant ships
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A ship carrying hundreds of refugees was rescued today off the coast of Italy, after its crew abandoned it. It was the second such incident this week, suggesting a foreboding new stage of an influx of migrants to Europe.
The fate of hundreds of migrants abandoned in the Mediterranean this week could foreshadow a treacherous year ahead as Europe struggles to address one of its worst refugee crises since World War II.
On Friday the Italian Air Force battled rough seas to rescue nearly 500 migrants stranded on the cargo ship Ezadeen, which is sailing with a Sierra Leone flag. It was some 40 miles off Italy’s southeastern tip when migrants aboard called for help, saying they were left without a crew to steer them to safety.
Earlier in the week, more than 700 migrants were rescued from another ship, the Blue Sky M, also believed to be abandoned by smugglers, after they were left to fend for themselves in the high seas. Most of those aboard were Syrians and Kurds. ...
The fate of hundreds of migrants abandoned in the Mediterranean this week could foreshadow a treacherous year ahead as Europe struggles to address one of its worst refugee crises since World War II.
On Friday the Italian Air Force battled rough seas to rescue nearly 500 migrants stranded on the cargo ship Ezadeen, which is sailing with a Sierra Leone flag. It was some 40 miles off Italy’s southeastern tip when migrants aboard called for help, saying they were left without a crew to steer them to safety.
Earlier in the week, more than 700 migrants were rescued from another ship, the Blue Sky M, also believed to be abandoned by smugglers, after they were left to fend for themselves in the high seas. Most of those aboard were Syrians and Kurds. ...
"We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery," the pope said during his November visit. "The absence of mutual support within the European Union runs the risk of encouraging ... solutions, which fail to take into account the human dignity of immigrants, and thus contribute to slave labor and continuing social tensions."
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