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Greek ship carries 1,200 migrants from Misrata to Benghazi
Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Very Mix
A Greek ship packed with nearly 1,200 Asian and African migrants, many needing medical attention after weeks with little food or water, left the besieged Libyan city of Misrata on Friday for rebel-held Benghazi, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said in Geneva, according to Reuters.
The chartered Greek vessel, Ionian Spirit, unloaded 400 tonnes of aid supplies in Misrata overnight despite shelling on Thursday. ”It left in the early hours of this morning with nearly 1,200 people on board,” IOM spokeswoman Jemini Pandya told Reuters.
“The migrants are all very weak and dehydrated with many needing medical attention being provided by medical non-governmental organisations on board the ship which have set up a small hospital on deck,” the IOM later said in a statement.
In all, 1,182 migrants were aboard IOM’s first mass evacuation vessel, due to arrive in Benghazi on Friday night.
The majority are migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt, but also included people from India, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan and Eritrea. They were among 8,300 migrants who have been living in the open around the port of Misrata without shelter, adequate food, access to clean water or medical care, according to the IOM.
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