Equatorial Guinea Ship Incident: Challenges and Rescues of Affected Passengers
On July 20, 2024, a ship carrying 90 individuals experienced abandonment at sea near Equatorial Guinea. Initially presumed wrecked, it was later revealed that the captain had deserted the passengers, who spent nearly 19 days adrift. Of the passengers, 89 were rescued, with one death reported. The survivors faced extensive resource shortages while housed in a Gendarmerie facility, with ongoing discussions about their repatriation.
On July 20, 2024, the National President of the Equatorial Guinea Red Cross was notified of a ship incident that occurred before dawn at the Rio Campo Cribi sea border between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Initial reports from the rescued passengers suggested they had set sail on July 1, 2024, looking to reach Gabon for employment. However, further findings revealed the vessel had stayed in international waters for nearly 19 days, with the captain abandoning ship due to fears of arrest by Equatorial Guinea authorities, leaving passengers stranded. The vessel had not faced an actual shipwreck; rather, passengers suffered from exposure to adverse weather conditions throughout their extended wait at sea until they were rescued upon entering Equatorial Guinea waters.
The distressed boat accommodated 90 individuals, including 47 women from various nationalities and 43 men. One man perished, while 89 were rescued, some sustaining injuries ranging from superficial bruises to fractures. The support provided by the National Society included immediate first aid upon their arrival at the Gendarmerie Nacional following government notification. Assessments revealed that the survivors were confined in an overcrowded holding room, with dire shortages of basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, and hygiene items.
On July 26, authorities communicated plans to relocate the rescued passengers to a more suitable facility. Nonetheless, two months post-incident, they remained in the Gendarmerie, having received limited assistance from NGOs and consulates. By September, aid from external organizations diminished significantly, with the Red Cross being the sole source of assistance until October 2024. As they were prohibited from leaving the facility and had no family support, their dependency on external help heightened, leaving their future uncertain.
Discussions during a lessons learned workshop revealed that a representative from the Consulate of Benin indicated that most of the affected individuals would be repatriated before the end of October 2024. They noted that the respective embassies had been contacted to facilitate the repatriation of their nationals, providing some hope for the stranded individuals following their long ordeal.
The incident involving the shipwreck at the Rio Campo Cribi presents significant challenges faced by the survivors, who suffered prolonged exposure to harsh conditions at sea, resulting from the abandonment by their captain. Though assistance was initially provided, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding their future and repatriation complicates their situation. Efforts by the Red Cross and governmental authorities highlight the need for careful handling of such crises to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
