Southern European navies have rescued more than 300 African immigrants from overcrowded vessels in rough waters off the coasts of Sicily and Greece.  It’s the latest examples of people willing to risk it all for marginally better opportunities in far off lands.

The Italian navy picked up 233 people, mostly from African countries, who had been stuck in an “overcrowded” 10-meter vessel between Sicily and Lampedusa, where more than 400 immigrants drowned when their boat capsized in October.  Meanwhile, the Greek Coast Guard rescued 85 migrants off the island of Astypalaia after the ship’s captain sent a distress signal because of bad weather.  Women and children were among the migrants.

Previously, human rights watchdogs have strongly criticized Italy and Greece for “push backs”, in which immigrant ships are sent back to their respective points of departure.  But after the Lampedusa tragedy, Italy launched an operation called “Mare Nostrum” in which warships and aircraft are utilized to prevent further disasters.