More than 2000 people were rescued in less than 36 hours

Videos and Photos25 June 2016

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Refugees look at a map of Italy on the deck of the Bourbon Argos’ deck. Smugglers often tell people when they board rubber dinghies that all they have to do to reach Italy is sail north. Often people embarking in this journey don’t realise how big the distances actually are and are often surprised when they find out that the journey can take two days before they will reach the Italian coast. Photo: Sara Creta/MSf

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People rest on the deck of the Bourbon Argos shortly after being rescued in the Mediterranean Sea by MSF staff and ship crew. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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Boats marked as rescued by Bourbon Argos crew. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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Boats marked as rescued by Bourbon Argos crew. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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Refugees and migrants onboard the Bourbon Argos following a rescue. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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Refugees and migrants celebrate onboard the Bourbon Argos following a rescue. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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On 23 June 2016 MSF and the Bourbon Argos rescued 1139 people in 10 different operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Sara Creta/MSF

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In less than 36 hours, more than 2000 people were rescued in the Central Mediterranean. Read: Search and rescue in the Mediterranean: “Stay calm, we will take you all to Italy”

So far in 2016, more than 2800 people have died at sea, this is 1000 more than in the same period last year. Since the beginning of the MSF's 2016 operations, MSF teams on board Dignity, Bourbon Argos and Aquarius (in partnership with SOS Mediterranee) rescued 5653 people during 44 different rescue operations. Between 23 and 24 June, more than 2000 people were rescued. Bourbon Argos rescued 1139, Aquarius 257 and Dignity I 639 people.