Post date: Aug 28, 2013 10:21:50 AM
Some 200 migrants aboard a rickety boat are rescued off the coast of Italy with officials saying many seem to be of Syrian origin.
AT SEA, OFF COAST OF SICILY, ITALY (AUGUST 28, 2013) (MARINA MILITARE HANDOUT) - An Italian navy team rescued some 200 migrants believed to be of Syrian origin in the early hours of Wednesday (August 28) as their boat ran into trouble off the Sicilian coast.
Women and children were among those onboard the vessel, which the navy ship Foscari pulled up alongside of some 55 kilometres off the coast at Syracuse. The migrants were transferred to coastguard boats and taken to shore.Naval officers were seen to deliver medical care to at least two of the young children rescued from the boat, who appeared to be wet and suffering from dehydration.
Many thousands of migrants try to reach the southern shores of Italy every summer, whenMediterranean waters are sufficiently calm for small boats to make the crossing.