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Italy demanded on Friday that NATO investigate reports that one of its warships ignored the distress calls of a boat full of migrants escaping from the violence in Libya, the New York Times reports. The boat, which was rescued by three Italian Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter, held 370 people, and survivors say that dozens of migrants, mostly women, had died from dehydration and lack of food during the crossing. They said the bodies were tossed overboard during the week-long voyage. According to the AFP, Mario Testa, a doctor who treated survivors, said the refugees "were left for six days and six nights on the high seas without food or water, forced to look on" as "dozens" died around them.

In response, the Times reports that NATO said in a statement that its maritime command was informed by the Italian authorities of a "distress call of a ship" on Thursday and that the authorities subsequently said they had sent rescuers. They added that "facts of the incident are still emerging." Perhaps conversely, the AFP adds that NATO has also said that it did hear the "distress call but then confirmed that the Italian coast guard had responded." Italian official sources also report that when Italy asked for help from NATO on Thursday, after being alerted to the struck refugees, the NATO vessel had been 27 nautical miles away, according to ANSA.