TILOS – A 50-day-old baby was safely rescued on the Greek island of Tilos after being stranded for three days with his parents and a group of migrants, local authorities have reported.

The infant was part of a group that became trapped in a mountainous area after being abandoned by human traffickers. With dwindling resources, the group resorted to using seawater to prepare the baby’s milk, officials noted.

Rescue operations successfully evacuated the baby by sea, while other members of the group were airlifted to safety. Local media confirmed that the baby is in good health. However, details about the total number of people involved remain unclear.

Tilos Mayor Maria Kamma shared the harrowing details of the rescue on Facebook, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by refugees on the island. She described how traffickers have created a “scene of despair,” with reports of some refugees being “badly beaten.”

“A 50-day-old refugee child, stranded on the mountain for three days, had to survive on milk made with seawater,” Mayor Kamma wrote. She also expressed concern over the limited external assistance in dealing with the traffickers, while praising the efforts of emergency teams and volunteers.

Greece continues to be a major entry point into Europe for migrants from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. However, the country has faced criticism from aid organizations for allegedly engaging in illegal “pushback” practices, where migrants are forcibly ejected at its borders. In July, the Greek coastguard denied Turkish accusations that it had pushed migrants away from Lesbos island into Turkish waters.

This story was originally reported by Sky News.