Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
500 migrants and refugess die as boat sinks off the coast of Malta
Malta boat sinking 'leaves 500 dead' - IOMTwo Palestinian survivors told the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that the boat had been intentionally sunk by traffickers. They said the boat had left Damietta in Egypt in early September.
The UN says more than 130,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year, compared with 80,000 this year. Italy has received more than 118,000 migrants, the UN said. The IOM says that more than 2,500 people are now believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year.
News of the sinking near Malta emerged as another vessel carrying 250 people sank off the coast of Libya. Over 200 people are feared to have drowned in that incident.
The boat had been carrying Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese, the survivors said. The passengers, who included women and children, were reportedly told to move to a smaller, less safe boat. When they refused, the traffickers sank the larger vessel, the eyewitnesses said.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29210989