Dozens of migrants missing after Mediterranean dinghy sank

Dozens of migrants are feared dead after a rubber dinghy sank in the central Mediterranean. The Italian Coast Guard has recovered six bodies but is searching for about 40 people who are still missing. This incident occurred after a boat left Tunisia's Sfax on Monday with 56 people on board. On Tuesday, 10 survivors, including four women, were rescued and taken to Italy’s Lampedusa island. The Red Cross reported that they are in good condition but are receiving psychological care after a traumatic experience. Survivors stated that they knew their boat was in danger and prayed it wouldn’t sink. Aircraft from the European border agency Frontex and the Italian Coast Guard are assisting in the challenging search operations. Since 2014, the UN Missing Migrant Project has documented over 24,506 deaths in the Mediterranean, with many cases going unreported. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently spoke about the need to reduce migrant departures and stop traffickers. She noted a 60% drop in migrant arrivals in 2023, but emphasized that the crisis is not over. This drop followed a funding agreement with Tunisia, aimed at controlling migration. However, crossing attempts seem to be increasing again. Recently, 40 migrants arrived in Lampedusa on metal boats after the dinghy incident. In a separate case, a rescue ship with 35 migrants faced delays when ordered to dock far away in La Spezia. Anabel Montes Mier, who oversees the mission, criticized this decision for adding suffering to those already facing hardship at sea.