300 people assumed dead in mass drowning while trying to reach Europe from Africa
As many as 300 people trying to migrate from Africa by sea are missing and presumed dead in the Mediterranean in one of the deadliest mass drownings in more than a year. According to the International Organization for Migration nine more survivors were recently rescued at sea out of hundreds that set out Saturday from the shores of Libya on reinforced inflatable boats headed for Europe. Generally human smugglers wait until the waters are warmer, but this year’s early start and an already high number of drownings bode for the worst year on record for migrant deaths on the high seas. FSRN’S Nell Abram spoke with Joel Millman, press officer for the International Organization for Migration, about both this incident and the bigger picture for the tens of thousands of people who will likely try to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean this year.
