What Crew Members Say About Sarost-5

On August 1, the vessel 'Sarost 5', carrying 40 migrants, successfully docked in Sfax, Tunisia, concluding a harrowing three-week maritime ordeal. Among the migrants, three individuals, including two pregnant women, required immediate medical attention and were taken to a local hospital upon arrival. This challenging journey began on July 13, when the group set sail from Syria. They were initially rescued by a Malta-flagged ship and transferred to the 'Sarost 5' just three days later. For several days, 'Sarost 5' remained anchored off the coast of Sfax, awaiting permission to disembark, as it faced refusals from Italy, Malta, and Tunisia to accept the refugees. The situation changed when Tunisian MP Youssef Chahed intervened, allowing the humanitarian vessel to dock in Sfax. This pivotal decision came after prolonged negotiations and a growing urgency for the safe landing of the migrants. For more on this developing story, visit the German report with photos: https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2018-08/versorgungsschiff-sarost-5-fluechtlinge-mittelmeer-tunesien-angelegt.

In a desperate situation at sea, a supply vessel has come to the aid of the 'Sarost 5' by delivering essential food, water, and 40 mattresses, generously donated by the Tunisian Red Cross. These donations are meant to replace the uncomfortable straw mats on which the 40 rescued migrants have been forced to sleep since their dramatic rescue on July 15, 2018. The group, ranging in age from 17 to 36, includes two pregnant women and hails from a diverse array of countries such as Egypt, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ambazonia. These individuals were saved after spending five harrowing days adrift off the southern coast of Tunisia near Zarzis. Notably, the migrants have been hesitant to step foot in a Tunisian port, raising concerns about their immediate future and well-being.