Emergency Life Support ship rescues 28 migrants, heads to Ortona port

The NGO vessel Emergency Life Support, operated by EMERGENCY, completed a rescue of 28 people in the central Mediterranean SAR zone on 30 July. The group included four unaccompanied minors and nationals from Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Pakistan, all fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises.

Captain Jonathan Nanì La Terra reported that the ship faced repeated interference from Libyan vessels, which attempted to force it northward and threatened the rescue operation. After providing medical aid, food, water and basic supplies, the rescued persons were placed on a course for the Place of Safety at the Italian port of Ortona, with an expected arrival on 3 August. The mission marks the 44th deployment of Emergency Life Support, which has saved a total of 3,538 people in the central Mediterranean since December 2022.