32 Migrants Rescued After Days on Mediterranean Oil Platform

In a dramatic turn of events, a group of 32 migrants stranded on an oil platform in the Mediterranean has been rescued after enduring several days in dire conditions, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

In a dramatic rescue operation, NGO Sea Watch has successfully saved 32 migrants who had been stranded for several days on a British Gas-managed oil platform off the coast of Tunisia. According to Mediterranea, a migrant rescue charity, the group, which included women, men, and children, faced critical conditions as they were without food or water. Tragically, one individual reportedly died during the ordeal. On Tuesday afternoon, rescue efforts led to the evacuation of all 32 stranded individuals, who are now aboard the Aurora ship. However, uncertainties remain regarding their safe landing, as no nearby country has been designated as a port for the vessel.

Sea Watch criticized European nations for their inaction during what they described as an "imminent emergency." The stranded migrants were reportedly located in international waters, caught between the Tunisian and Maltese search and rescue zones. The situation escalated when the migrants contacted Alarm Phone, an emergency helpline, detailing their critical condition and the loss of a companion. Video footage shared by NGOs shows an anguished young man on the platform, pleading for help as he described their dire state of hunger and shivering in the cold. With over 210,000 individuals attempting to cross the perilous Central Mediterranean route in 2023—despite high risks—around 60,000 have been intercepted while nearly 2,000 have tragically perished at sea. The ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean continues to draw international attention and calls for urgent action.