"Among the survivors are those bearing the harrowing signs of physical and psychological violence experienced during their journey through Libya," said Jay Berger, MSF project coordinator on the Ocean Viking. "The sobering reality is that there is an ongoing conflict in Libya where many vulnerable migrants and refugees are trapped in detention centres on the front line. We are now asking for a place of safety to disembark these vulnerable people without delay. They have suffered enough."
Despite being contacted throughout four rescue operations that took place from August 9 to 12, the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre did not respond to any alerts from the Ocean Viking, except to ask that the ship disembark survivors in Libya. However, this is contrary to international law, and MSF and SOS MEDITERRANEE will not return survivors to Libya under any circumstance. The Libyan authorities failed to identify an alternative place to disembark rescued people that meets the requirements of international law. With no place of safety designated, the Ocean Viking is now headed north.
