Charities complain at migrant’s reception as coast guards call off search for survivors

AS MARINE Rescue suspended searches for 35 missing migrants off the Malaga coast on Friday (October 30), charities have complained at the treatment that the 15 survivors found clinging to the remains of the dinghy 53 miles south of the city, are receiving in Spain.

Thirteen men and two women were rescued after the Condor II lifeboat found them in the sea on Thursday, and seven (including the two women) were admitted to hospitals in Malaga for treatment. Meanwhile the other survivors were thrown into police cells in accordance with Spanish law.

Although, charity spokespeople have stressed, the police are not to blame as they are simply following orders, this is hardly suitable treatment following the traumatic experience of watching loved ones disappear and spending more than 10 hours clinging to debris at sea.

While the Red Cross has announced that the two women survivors, both of whom lost their babies in the tragic accident, will be given refuge at the charity’s centre in Puente Genil, Cordoba, where they are expected to be taken on Saturday, extradition orders have already been issued for the 13 male survivors.

The dinghy, which set off from a Moroccan beach on Wednesday, was carrying at least 54 migrants from Cameroon, Mali and Ivory Coast. Just four bodies were retrieved during extensive searches of the area, which have been called off as the chances of finding survivors are now very low. However if any signs of survivors appear, the coast guards have explained searches will resume.