Libyan Coast Guard’s actions causing death, chaos

Libyan Coast Guard’s actions are causing death and chaos, Sea Watch International has alleged.

Sea Watch International’s allegation is coming on the backdrop of the obstruction of SOS Humanity’s rescue operation by the Libyan Coast Guard.

Sea Watch International’s statement decrying the Libyan Coast Guard’s action reads: “The criminal actions of the so-called Libyan coast guard are once again causing death and chaos. Yesterday, our #Seabird aircraft spotted three boats in distress with about 90 people on board. The NGO ship Humanity 1 was on scene conducting the rescue.

“A Libyan patrol boat arrived on the scene & performed dangerous maneuvers that caused chaos & many people jumped into the water. The patrol boat also fired a gunshot into the water. @soshumanity_en rescued 77 ppl. and according to the survivors, at least one person drowned.

“More survivors were forcibly taken aboard the Libyan patrol boat. Earlier, we witnessed the same ship intercepting another boat in distress. Once again, people were in the water and desperately trying to escape.

“The Libyan patrol boat that caused the chaos is one of those recently given by Italy to the so-called Libyan coastguard for exactly this purpose: to spread chaos and cause deaths. This is no accident; it is what Italy and the European Union want.”