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Doctors Without Borders to launch rescue ship

It will partner with another organization to help those attempting to travel to Europe.

By Ed Adamczyk
MSF and MOAS will engage in rescue operations on the mediterranean sea this summer. Photo Courtesy of MOAS.
MSF and MOAS will engage in rescue operations on the mediterranean sea this summer. Photo Courtesy of MOAS.

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 10 (UPI) -- The humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders said Friday it would begin involvement in a rescue operation of Mediterranean Sea migrants to Europe.

The non-governmental organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland and formally known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), announced it would have a patrol boat of its own on the Mediterranean Sea from May to October to provide search, rescue and medical air operations. Thousands of people are expected to attempt to travel from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe in search of asylum and relief from human rights violations and military conflict.

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Over 3,400 people died while attempting the voyage in 2014, MSF said.

The MSF project will be conducted in conjunction with the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), another humanitarian organization, based in Malta, and will help replace Mare Nostrum, a phased-out rescue project of the Italian Navy. It will involve a 40-meter (131 feet) long rescue ship, the MY Phoenix.

"Our motivation is simple," MOAS director Martin Xuereb said. "No one deserves to die, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that those who feel compelled to undertake this treacherous sea crossing in makeshift vessels do not drown. When we launched our operations last year, we rescued 3,000 people in 60 days. We hope to be even more successful this year as we will operate for six months alongside MSF."

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The ship will have doctors, nurses and emergency lifesaving equipment aboard.

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