MaltaToday previous editions

maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2014 News 4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 On Friday, 11 October, 2013, at approximately 5:00pm a trawler carrying over 400 people, the large majority of them Syrian families, including approxi- mately 150 children, sank 111km from Lampedusa and 218km from Malta, in Malta's SAR zone; 212 people were rescued, and some 200 are estimated to have died. Only 26 bodies were recovered. "This was a shocking example of the dangers created by the short- comings in the co-operation be- tween Italian and Maltese SAR services," Amnesty said. The trawler had left Zuwara, Lib- ya, at 1:00am on 11 October. Among the passengers were several Syr- ian medical doctors travelling with their families. One of them was Mo- hanad Jammo, 40, a physician from Aleppo, who later would be making the calls to Italy and Malta request- ing rescue. At about 3:00am the boat was ap- proached by a Libyan vessel with several men armed with Kalash- nikovs. They made a number of attempts to stop the boat, eventu- ally by shooting at the boat's engine. Some passengers were injured and the trawler started to take in water. At dawn, the Libyan vessel left. As water was rising fast in the refu- gees and migrants' boat, the captain asked who could speak English and had an emergency number to call. Mohanad Jammo offered to help. He reportedly called Rome RCC at 11:00am and gave the position of the boat, adding that there were many Syrians and over 100 children on board, and that the boat was tak- ing in water. While Rome RCC de- nies receiving a call at 11:00am, it has confirmed that Mohanad Jam- mo called at 12:26pm and again at 12:39pm, when he was told by Rome RCC that the boat was in the Mal- tese SAR zone and that he had to call the Maltese SAR authorities. Shortly afterwards, at 1:00pm, Rome RCC informed Malta's RCC of the situation, adding that two com- mercial vessels had also been lo- cated in the area. At 1:05pm, Malta's RCC took charge of co-ordinating the SAR operation. However, notwithstanding two RCCs being informed of the request for urgent assistance by the boat and of its position, and notwithstanding an Italian Navy vessel being in the vicinity, no rescue was provided to the refugees and migrants for hours. At 4:22pm, Malta's RCC informed Rome RCC that one of its aircraft had spotted the boat, which was not stationary, but sailing at 5-10 knots. At 5:00pm, the boat capsized and sank rapidly. At 5:07pm, Malta's RCC informed Rome RCC that many people were in the water and requested assistance by Italian as- sets. Maltese and Italian assets, as well as commercial vessels, assisted in the subsequent rescue operations. AFM Malta rescued 109 men, 19 women and 15 children, Italian as- sets 39 men, eight women and nine children. 26 bodies were recovered. Considering that some 200 peo- ple were saved and that there were more than 400 people on board, it is believed that about 200 were lost at sea. "The obligation to protect life at sea is enshrined in international maritime law, international human rights law as well as in the national laws of both Italy and Malta. The death of about 200 people, mostly refugees fleeing war, in an area of sea where rescue was available and had been repeatedly requested, de- mands accountability," Amnesty said. "It is reasonable to question wheth- er Italy and Malta acted promptly and with all available resources to save the refugees and migrants and whether a delay in going to their res- cue contributed to the shipwreck." While both Italy and Malta claim they acted in full compliance with MIRIAM DALLI EUROPEAN Commissioner- designate for migration Dimitris Avramopoulos called for a "legal migration system" in order to estab- lish legal and safe routes for asylum seekers wanting refuge in Europe. The former Greek defence min- ister has been nominated for mi- gration and home affairs – but his nomination raised concerns among the committee on civil liberties, jus- tice and home affairs: Avramopou- los' country, Greece, has received both domestic and international criticism for its handling of asylum Italy, Malta dithering blamed for 'foreseeable' Notice of meeting to be held in public e Malta Environment & Planning Authority will meet on ursday 2 nd October 2014 at 14:00 hours at the MEPA boardroom, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana, to discuss the following: DETERMINATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL APPLICATIONS: PA 5729/09: Site at, Regina Hotel, Triq il-Kbira/, Triq It-Torri, Sliema Proposed demolition of existing house and extension and amendments of approved 4 star hotel. PA 0525/10: Site at, SMW Cortis, Triq H'Attard c/w, Triq L-Imdina, Zebbug (Malta) To extend existing factory to include two levels of storage extend parking segregated industrial loading/unloading area, improve access to site and re routed to Attard road and include landscaping. Present uses to be retained but existing rooms to be demolished. Subject to the maximum seating capacity, seats can be reserved on request for the applicant and registered objectors. Remaining seating is lled on a rst come rst served basis. RESERVATIONS: 2290 2018 25 th September, 2014 www.mepa.org.mt European Commissioner-designate for migration Dimitris Avramopoulos (Photo: EP/Flickr) Frontex can develop into an 'authority save lives'

• Cover