10 years of civil sea rescue: Sea-Eye calls for government solutions to the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean

Rescue Operation

On August 25th 2014, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) was the first civil sea rescue organisation to respond to the high number of shipwrecks and deaths in the Mediterranean with a rescue operation.

On the tenth anniversary of civilian sea rescue in the central Mediterranean, Sea-Eye is calling on the European Union to assume its responsibilities and establish a comprehensive state sea rescue system. In the same year that MOAS began its mission, the Italian maritime operation Mare Nostrum also stopped its work. Since then, there is no state organised sea rescue in the Mediterranean. Instead, Operation Triton, led by the EU border agency Frontex, was launched, focusing on border security rather than rescuing people in need of protection. Over the past decade, several private organisations have saved many lives – but the humanitarian crisis remains unresolved.

“Over the past ten years, civilian sea rescue organisations have taken over the responsibility generally held by EU member states. Much has changed politically in that time, but the humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean remains dire. Instead of relying on state-organised sea rescues, Europe continues its isolation policy. Laws against civilian sea rescue organisations have been created in Italy and, worst of all, thousands of people are still dying every year in search of asylum and protection”, says Gorden Isler, Chairman of Sea-Eye e. V. “The EU Member States must stop criminalising our work and finally create a European state sea rescue organisation with a clear mission to save as many lives as possible in the Mediterranean!”

Sea-Eye was established in the autumn of 2015, and began its first rescue missions the following spring. Despite the commitment of civilian sea rescue organisations, the Mediterranean Sea is considered the most dangerous escape route in the world. According to the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM) Missing Migrants Project, more than 30,000 people have disappeared or died in the Mediterranean since 2014. The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.

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Interview with Sandra Hüller: “I don’t want to be in the public eye and then keep quiet about things that aren’t right”

Sandra Hüller

On July 22, the Oscar-nominated actress named our new all-weather lifeboat, the SEA-EYE 5. We caught up with her after the official ceremony to find out why she is so passionate about civil sea rescue and what she would like to see from politicians.

One thing is for sure: you are a great patron of the SEA-EYE 5. What motivated you personally to take on this role?

I have known a member of Sea-Eye for many years. We had lost touch, and he asked me, through my agency, if I would be willing to help raise awareness for the organisation and the ship. It was no question for me – I knew I wanted to be involved. The only thing we had to do was find a date and place for the ceremony that would suit everyone.

How do you see the role of artists and celebrities in raising awareness of issues such as civil sea rescue?

I can’t speak for others, of course. I think everyone has to decide for themselves how much they want to use their publicity or their position to speak out about the issues they feel strongly about. For me, it would feel strange to be in the public eye and then remain silent about things that are simply not right. That’s why this project is so important to me.

Your calendar is full. Where do you find the energy to also campaign against right-wing extremism or the deaths in the Mediterranean?

My busy schedule is nowhere near comparable to the problems of people affected by right-wing violence or struggling to survive in the Mediterranean. That’s why it’s natural for me to stand up for them.

What changes would you like to see for people fleeing across the Mediterranean?

I hope that European governments will recognise that the refugee movements are also caused by Europe. That they act accordingly, that they take responsibility – and that these refugee movements are seen for what they are, and not as a luxury problem of people who supposedly want more and more. These false attributions, which exist in some parts of the press, must stop. I would like people to take a closer look at this, for example: What causes people to flee?   Politicians know the answers, and why they don’t act on them is a mystery to me. But I would like the causes of flight to be tackled at long last.

To ensure that the SEA-EYE 5 can save lives in the Mediterranean as soon as possible, we need many more people to get involved in addition to a patron. How can people help to send the SEA-EYE 5 into operation?

There is a fundraising project for the SEA-EYE 5: anyone can become one of 3,000 ship sponsors and make a monthly contribution to get this ship ready for operation. By the way: I’ve already filled out the form on the website myself – I’m already a sponsor of the ship!

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