Hours after she was rescued from the sea, Nigerian woman gives birth

She was rescued off the coast of Libya as she prepared for a dangerous trip to Europe through the Mediterranean. Hours later, she was giving birth to a baby boy. 

A 23-year-old Nigerian woman who was attempting to illegally migrate to Europe from Libya, gave birth to a baby boy as soon as she was airlifted from the ship full of immigrants, according to the humanitarian group, Doctors Without Borders. 

The woman and other immigrants were rescued from Libya by authorities and were transferred to a ship jointly owned by Doctors Without Borders and SOS Mediterranee.

The Nigerian woman and her husband were then transferred to Malta by a military helicopter on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, after the Ocean Viking rescue ship called for a medical evacuation.

The Nigerian woman gave birth on Thursday, September 12 in Malta. 

The ship has requested a safe place of disembarkation in Malta or Italy for the 82 other migrants on board.

The ship’s operators say Malta rejected the request and Italy is yet to respond.

A dangerous voyage across the open seas

Thousands of Nigerians make the dangerous trip to Libya each year, from where they hope to land in Italy, Greece, Germany or Spain.

Hundreds don’t survive the journey by dinghies or ships and perish in the Mediterranean. 

Scores of immigrants have drowned in the Mediterranean in the last decade, following shipwrecks. 

It is estimated that some 900 people have lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean in 2019.

More than 3,600 refugees and asylum seekers are currently held in Libyan detention centres, with many at risk of serious abuse. 

Others are caught in the Libyan conflict.