Armed men seize women and children from migrants off Libya's coast

In international waters off Libya, a group of armed men in speedboats intercepted a rubber dinghy carrying 112 migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The dinghy, which was overcrowded and deflating, prompted many men and boys aboard to jump into the sea to escape the imminent danger. The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that its rescue boat, Geo Barents, arrived at the scene and successfully saved 83 men and unaccompanied minors, with 70 of them being plucked directly from the water. As the Geo Barents crew was conducting rescues, two speedboats identified as Libyan Coast Guard vessels approached and fired shots, leading to confusion and panic among the migrants. Reports indicate that 24 women and four children were taken on one of the speedboats, which claimed they would return the captives after the men were rescued. However, the speedboats chose to flee the scene instead of fulfilling their promise. Medical personnel from MSF described the rescued migrants as experiencing shock and exhaustion, many having faced severe mistreatment while in Libya. This alarming incident underscores the ongoing dangers associated with migration across the Mediterranean and highlights the precarious situation within Libya, often cited as an unsafe haven for migrants. As migration routes intensify, the deaths of migrants at sea continue to rise, with reports indicating that over 2,100 deaths have occurred this year alone. The Italian government's stringent immigration policies, aimed at curbing migration flows, have also placed further strain on migrants hoping to seek a better life in Europe.