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Part of what makes the MOAS operation unique are the drones Catrambone and his team launch from the Phoenix with high-powered infrared cameras to scan the vast Mediterranean. They can search up to 300 square miles off the coast of Libya, where the vast majority of these migrants embark on their hazardous journey towards Italy.

Catrambone rejects the criticism that smugglers will send more boats out knowing that the Phoenix and other ships are waiting to rescue migrants.

“What MOAS does is rescue people at sea,” Catrambone said. “If they do come out we want to be there to make sure they don’t die at sea. ... That’s the whole point.”

At sea, every ship is required by international law to assist a vessel in distress, which is why smugglers exploit busy commercial shipping lanes, and families pay thousands of dollars to get on board.

In early June, the Phoenix faced its biggest challenge yet -- four boats of migrants, with one of the boats taking on water, and more than 2,000 lives in peril. It would be the largest number of people they had ever attempted to rescue.

Once the Phoenix reached the first migrant boat, they deployed a rescue team in motorized dinghies. With too many to bring on board, the sick and wounded are loaded on first. The Phoenix bridge called for back-up and over several hours, a small fleet of five international warships converged on the area.

It took over six hours to rescue the 2,000 migrants, split up onto the six ships bound for Italy. On the Phoenix, a medical staff from Doctors Without Borders, who partnered with MOAS, provided medical attention.

\"PHOTO:
Alex Marquardt/ABC
PHOTO: Migrants take refuge on MOAS’s rescue vessel, the Phoenix.
>

“This is a pretty overwhelming situation for everybody,” said Mary Joe, a nurse on the Phoenix. “We’ve never seen this much, ever, at one time.”

All of the migrants on board the Phoenix were from Eritrea, the East African country ruled by an oppressive dictator accused of widespread human rights abuses. Many were traveling with children, and some families were separated.

Mohammed Mahmoud, a 32-year-old computer technician, was among those rescued. He said he sold two homes to smugglers to pay for the passage of 17 family members, which he said cost him more than $40,000.

“I don’t know Europe, I’ve never been in Europe, but I know one thing. There is fairness. These people are fair,” he said.

But as the family was put into boats, Mahmoud said he was separated from his wife and three of his five children. He anxiously scanned the horizon to see if the other boats had been rescued and wondered where they might be taken. His plan was for the family to go to Switzerland after arriving in Italy to start a new life together, but with part of his family missing, Mahmoud he was wasn’t sure what to do next.

To find out more about what happens to Mahmoud and his family, and to watch more from the new “Nightline” and BBC Digital Current Affairs joint venture, timesXtwo, visit our YouTube channel HERE.

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