While The World Was Focused On London Another Tragedy Took Place

Reuters

It is believed that around 240 refugees and migrants have drowned after two boats disastrously overturned in the Mediterranean sea. 

So far five bodies have been recovered off the coast of Libya, after the collapse of two vulnerable rubber, dinghies, the Independent reports.

However, Spanish aid organisation, Proactiva Open Arms, believe the death toll could rise to over 200, as each boat is often crammed with up to 120 migrants at a time.

Reuters

Devastatingly, there have already been 559 recorded deaths in the Mediterranean sea this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), with 5,000 recorded for 2016 as desperate refugees and migrants attempt to make the perilous journey over the ocean.

In the first few weeks of January 2017, 200 refugees sadly perished at sea, although 500 migrants were saved from the dangerous crossing by Italian coastguards on a separate occasion.

Please be warned, the following image is of a distressing nature. 

Reuters

Proactiva Open Arms wrote on Facebook:

We brought on board five corpses recovered from the sea, but no lives. It is a harsh reality check of the suffering here that is invisible in Europe.

The deaths of five people aged between 16-25, were confirmed by an Italian coastguard and were pulled onto the Spanish rescue aid’s ship.

Last night, it was reported they were still hunting for a third dinghy, 13 miles north of Libya with IOM spokesman, Flavio Di Giacomo, revealing investigations were underway as to whether another set of people had been rescued by Libyan coastguards.

Already, according to the IOM, over 20,000 refugees and migrants have reached Italy in 2017 – already an increase on the 19,000 arrivals and 350 deaths in early 2016.

Joel Millman, a spokesman for IOM said:

We have yet to complete March, and we are already racing at a pace of arrivals that has exceeded anything we’ve seen before in the Mediterranean.

This is typical of spring, getting very busy, but it’s not typical to have the numbers be so high this early and the corresponding deaths that go with it.

Another example of a tragic loss of life, as people bravely make an attempt to make the crossing, towards the hope of freedom and a better life.

Something has to be done to prevent these unnecessary deaths.

RIP to all those who have already lost their lives and thoughts are with the families and anyone affected by this sad, recurring story.

UNILAD