Dozens of Lebanese and Syrian migrants who are adrift in the Mediterranean on a fishing boat that has taken on water pleaded with European coast guards Monday to save them, saying two children on board have already died.
The roughly 60 migrants also told relatives and volunteer groups by satellite phone that they have been without food, water, and baby formula for the past three days. 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 their country's impoverished northern provinces.
