An Irish nurse has told of the deadly risks migrants take while trying to reach mainland Europe.
Aoife Ni Mhurchu said it's sad to see what is happening to "vulnerable" people who make dangerous crossings at sea in search for a better life.
But the Cork woman insists she'll continue to carry out her "important" work on rescue missions with medical organisation Medecins San Frontieres - also known as Doctors Without Borders.
She works specifically on the MV Aquarius search and rescue ship in the Mediterranean - where she encounters hundreds of people making "life and death" choices.
She said: "We come across rubber boats at sea containing 100, 120 up to 150-160 people in trouble. This could happen 30, 50 or 100 miles of the coast of Libya.
"The people can’t swim, they’re not wearing life jackets, they don’t have food or water.
"Some of the boats don’t even have engines because the smugglers at some point took it back to Libya to use it again.
"The situation in Libya is so dangerous for refugees, they have no choice but to flee on these rubber boats if they get the opportunity.
"It’s a choice between life and death. They’re so relieved when they come aboard and hear the word ‘welcome’.
"Straightaway you can see the relief in their faces, they fall to their knees and start crying or start laughing.
"You’ll hear songs here and there. And then it stops being ‘us' and ‘them’."
She worked with survivors of sexual abuse in Paua New Guinea and Afghanistan prior to her missions with Aquarius.
She told the Irish Sun: “This work is very important to me. I know I’m able to do it.
"But also I feel very sad when I see what’s going on in different countries, what’s happening to vulnerable people.
“It’s important to me to do this work and continue with it.”
Aoife recently featured on new TG4 documentary An Bhearna Bhaoil.
