ADThe Oct. 18 interception was reported by Alarm Phone, an independent hotline for migrants in need of rescue at sea. “We will take care of everything” a Maltese officer on duty told an Alarm Phone activist at 2:40 p.m., according to a transcript of the call provided to the Associated Press by Alarm Phone. ADBut in the hours following the first contact, Malta’s rescue and coordination center stopped answering calls from Alarm Phone, which attempted to follow up on the rescue. So far this year Malta has seen nearly 3,000 migrant arrivals by sea compared to 989 in the same period last year. UNHCR’s Cochetel said it was not the first time Malta was allegedly accused of delegating a rescue to the Libyan coast guard.

Source: Washington Post October 22, 2019 19:52 UTC