Libyan coastguards accuse Spanish rescue ship of hindering sea rescue operation

BY Libyan Express Mar 17, 2018 - 22:49

The Libyan coastguards issued a statement accusing the Spanish rescue ship, Proactivia Open Arms, of creating a mess in the rescue operation that took place off Libyan coast on Friday.

The statement said that the Libyan coastguard was first to arrive in the rescue zone where there was a boat filled with immigrants, yet, the Spanish rescue ship ignored that part and rushed into sending rubber boats to escort the migrants and create a mess in the sea.

The Libyan coastguards also explained that the behaviour of the Spanish ship made some migrants reject the Libyan assistance and jump in water awaiting the ship to approach them.

Meanwhile, the Spanish NGO’s founder, Oscar Camps, said on Twitter on Friday that the Libyan Coastguards endangered the lives of the immigrants by approaching the rescue operation they were doing and firing warning shots.

This is the second time the Libyan Naval Force and Proactivia Open Arms exchange blame for a mess created in the sea while rescuing immigrants.

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