10 women, 3 babies among 37 migrants rescued by Spanish navy

Spain’s navy has rescued 37 immigrants, including ten women and three babies, 17 miles off the east coast of Alboran Island.

Rescue officials said one of the refugees on the boat, which departed Morocco, called for help at around midday. They were found and rescued four hours later.

Rescatados 34 adultos y 3 niños de una patera cerca de la isla de Alborán https://t.co/HA6th8oe3f

— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) May 6, 2016

The migrants had no major injuries but a few of them were suffering from cold symptoms.

They will be handed over to local authorities after receiving treatment from Red Cross volunteers.

Poverty, human rights abuses and deteriorating security are the major issues making people set out from countries such as Eritrea, Morocco, Iran and Somalia in the hopes of a new life in Europe.

But as European countries struggle with the mass movement of people, some have tightened border and sea controls.