UNHCR thanks Korean captain for rescuing 387

Cho Myeong-seon Captain of Pegasus

The head of the United Nations refugee agency’s Seoul office has expressed gratitude to the captain of a Korean ship for rescuing 387 asylum seekers from a wrecked boat in the Mediterranean earlier this month.

According to the Korea Shipowners’ Association, the AMS Pegasus, a freighter operated by Korea Line Corp., rescued 387 people from a wrecked wooden boat on Sept. 11 in waters near Italy’s southern island of Sicily.

Many were believed to be from Egypt, Syria, Somalia, Palestine and Sudan, and they had been drifting without food and water for 15 days, according to the association.

The Korean office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said its head, Dirk Hebecker, had called Captain Cho Myeong-seon, Monday, and praised him for “a courageous act."

“Often commercial ships turn a blind eye to these boats in need of help and do not extend their help. Every time we have a case like yours, we really welcome it,” Hebecker said.

In response, Cho said he was “grateful for the opportunity to save the lives,” and that the rescue operation was part of “his duty.”

Hebecker added that he would mention Cho’s rescue during the High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges to be held on Dec. 10 and 11 in Geneva, said the agency.