‘While officials quibble over who’s responsible for search and rescue, we’re wasting precious time’ - Nicolas Beger

Amnesty International  has called for a more effective search and rescue system for migrants and asylum-seekers in the Mediterranean after a damning report was today by a Council of Europe Parliamentary Committee into the deaths at sea of 63 migrants and asylum-seekers fleeing Libya last year.

The report suggests that NATO and some European countries may have failed to take actions which could have prevented the deaths.

Amnesty International European Institutions Director Nicolas Beger said:

“This report makes clear in shocking detail that the deaths of these men, Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights and Children's rights could have been prevented at many stages.

“All parties involved in this tragic incident must co-operate fully with this investigation. Whoever is responsible must be held to account.

“This damning report must pave the way to a more effective search and rescue system. While officials quibble over who’s responsible for search and rescue, we’re wasting precious time and more people’s lives are being jeopardised.

“European countries and the EU must boost their efforts to comply with their international legal obligations on search and rescue. Saving lives must be the absolute priority.”