ROME – There is a critical risk of more deaths in the central Mediterranean this summer in the absence of European state led search and rescue operations the NGOs SOS Méditerranée, Médecins Sans Frontières and Sea-Watch have reported.

 They have urgently called for the provision of European state-led search and rescue maritime assets in the central Mediterranean to prevent more deaths. 

 Within five days, Geo Barents, a search and rescue ship operated by MSF  and Ocean Viking a search and rescue ship chartered by SOS Méditerranéein partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), rescued sixteen boats in distress. The week before, the Sea-Watch 3 was also able to rescue five boats in distress at sea with a total of 444 survivors.

 Without the presence of civil search and rescue assets in the central Mediterranean, the children, women and men rescued during these lifesaving operations would have been left to their fate in international waters off Libya, on the world deadliest sea migration route since 2014.

 During summer, when weather conditions are the most favourable to attempt such a dangerous journey, departures from Libya are more frequent and a large search and rescue fleet is therefore required. 

 “Keeping survivors stranded at sea for days waiting to disembark in a place of safety is an additional violence imposed on already extremely vulnerable people. Survivors rescued by the Ocean Viking in the past six years have been recounting harrowing stories of violence and abuse to our teams. The last and only hope they carry is to manage to flee Libya, which they often call “hell on earth” via the sea, regardless of the risks. The removal of adequate and competent European search and rescue services in international waters off Libya has proven to be deadly and ineffective in preventing dangerous crossings.” says Xavier Lauth, SOS Méditerranéedirector of operations.

 “While the European authorities are not willing to fulfil their duty to rescue people at sea, they are also delaying the disembarkation of rescued people by NGOs. This unnecessary waiting for days exhausts the rescued people: they have survived the Mediterranean, but instead of finding safety, they have to wait for days at the closed gates of Europe for their human rights to be respected.” says Mattea Weihe, Sea-Watch spokesperson.

jd