NATO accused of failing to help Libyan refugees

According to the Council of Europe, NATO ships failed to respond to distress calls put out by small boat carrying Libyans fleeing the political violence last year. Only nine people on board survived, while 63 died on the boat, which ran out of fuel and drifted back toward Libya. The survivors say a military helicopter hovered overhead and dropped food, but never returned with help.

“Last year during our operations to enforce the United Nations’ arms embargo against Libya, NATO helped rescue over 600 migrants in distress in the Mediterranean, including in late March, when this tragic incident happened,” said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. She said the military alliance has no record any contact was ever made with the boat carrying the Libyan refugees. “No aircraft and no ship under NATO command saw or made contact with the boat. Had we known, we would have helped, as we did on so many other occasions during the operation, saving hundreds of lives.”

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