08.08.2011
Italian Coast Guard on Aug 4 detected a vessel with Libyan refugees drifting in the Mediterranean Sea 160 km away from Lampedusa Island.
The distressed longboat with 370 refugees on board had been sending mayday signal to NATO ships for six days. However, due to maritime blockade imposed on Libya by NATO its warships deployed nearby took no action, ignored distress calls and even did not let other ships to enter that area and help people in distress.
Rescued refugees told that dozens people died of thirst, and their bodies were either thrown overboard or put under deck.
Italian foreign ministry addressed a protest to NATO's Joint Force Command Naples on Aug 5 because of refusal to render assistance to the distressed vessel with refugees on board.
