MSF Doctor David Beverluis and MSF nurse Aoife Ni Mhurchu treat a man whose finger was partially amputated in Libya. Many people rescued on Mediterranean tell MSF they directly experienced violence in Libya, while almost all report witnessing extreme violence against refugees and migrants, including beatings, sexual violence and murder.
After an extremely busy night on the Central Mediterranean, starting late on June 9 and into the early hours of June 10, the Aquarius has 630 people on board from six different operations. Over the next days, the Aquarius was embroiled in a political stand-off at sea over the fate of the people rescued in the Mediterranean. Although the rescue and transfers of the 630 people were initiated and coordinated by IMRCC, the Italian authorities denied Aquarius authorisation to bring them ashore in the closest port of safety in Italy. Malta, which had the nearest safe port, also refused to allow the Aquarius to disembark, citing Italy’s coordination role and responsibility.  Eventually, on 11 June, the Spanish government intervened and offered to let the Aquarius disembark in Valencia, 1,300 kilometres away. Despite MSF’s concerns about the humanitarian and medical impact of the sea journey to Valencia, the Italian authorities instructed Aquarius on 12 June to transfer 524 people back to Italian ships and embark with the remaining 106 rescued on a four-day journey to Spain. On June 17, one week after they had been rescued, all 630 people were disembarked in Valencia, Spain.