Activists and relatives of Lebanese and Syrian migrants and refugees stranded on board a sinking boat near the island of Malta have said that a third child has died on the vessel, and that they have lost contact with it.
The international activist network Alarm Phone said on Tuesday that the last contact with the roughly 60 Lebanese and Syrians had been overnight.
The migrants had told their relatives and volunteer groups by satellite phone that they had been without food, water and baby formula for several days.
They also said that a third child had died on board due to dehydration, according to the relatives.
The vessel left from the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli about 10 days ago. The passengers, headed for Italy, include Syrian refugees and Lebanese from the country’s north.
The passengers have urged European coastguards to rescue them.
