Thirty-six survivors rescued from boat near Lebanon territorial waters: UNIFIL
UN maritime armed forces stopped a boat outside of Lebanon’s territorial waters on Monday, rescuing 36 people following one death on the ship, a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said.
“All the 36 survivors are currently being provided immediate medical treatment on board the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force ship before being transferred to the Lebanese authorities,” the statement said.
This morning, #UNIFIL Maritime Task Force rescued a boat with 37 people onboard. Unfortunately, one of them had already passed away. Our main priority was to ensure the safety of all the rescued 36 people by providing immediate assistance.
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) September 14, 2020
More ℹ️: https://t.co/c81KSEcqop#A4P pic.twitter.com/JSoMUBDYW0
The statement did not say where the boat, or the people on board the boat, had come from or where they were attempting to go, but said the task force ship that rescued those aboard was moving toward the Port of Beirut, the site of August’s deadly explosion in the Lebanese capital.
Last week, five boats with migrants from Lebanon carrying Syrians and Lebanese sought entry in nearby Cyprus within the span of 48 hours. The UN refugee agency said that while some boats were allowed to disembark, others were sent back to Lebanon.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
In response, Cyprus said it would send a team to Lebanon to help authorities there to stop more boats from heading to the island some 160 kilometers away from Lebanon's shore.
There are around 1 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, and as conditions in the country continue to deteriorate as the economy continues to collapse, Lebanese and Syrians are increasingly looking for a way out. The coronavirus pandemic and last month’s explosion have made matters worse in the country.
“UNIFIL Maritime Task Force has also taken part in humanitarian efforts in the past when called upon,” the statement said.
UNIFL is a joint UN-NATO peacekeeping mission headquartered in the south of Lebanon.
The UNIFIL Maritime Task Force was deployed at the request of the Lebanese government to assist the Lebanese Navy in securing territorial waters and to help prevent the unauthorized entry of arms or other smuggled material by sea into Lebanon, the press release said.
Read more:
Lebanon blocks Syrian migrants attempting sea crossing from Tripoli
Lebanon's Cabinet formation hits snags as deadline looms
Beirut port fire hits warehouse where food aid stored: Red Cross
-
Lebanon's Cabinet formation hits snags as deadline looms
Lebanese officials held 11th-hour negotiations Monday over the formation of a new government, a process which hit snags over the weekend despite a ... Middle East -
Four soldiers, one militant killed in Lebanon army raid: Military source
Four Lebanese soldiers were killed overnight when they raided a house in north Lebanon in pursuit of a militant wanted in connection with a fatal ... Middle East -
Coronavirus: Ninety UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon contract COVID-19
Ninety UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a spokesman for the UNIFIL force said on Sunday, the first ... Coronavirus -
Lebanon's Nabih Berri says his Hezbollah-allied Amal will not be part of next govt
Lebanon's parliamentary speaker said his group opposed the way the prime minister-designate was forming a new cabinet and that it would not join on ... Middle East