Too many people rescued: The SEA-EYE 4 was detained by Italian authorities after a 12-hour port state control in Palermo. At the same time Palermo’s mayor, Leoluca Orlando, honored the crew of the SEA-EYE 4.
The attacks by EU states on people fleeing to Europe are becoming increasingly brutal. The recent events in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta are just another link in a long chain of escalating state violence.
Yesterday, the crew was able to say goodbye to the last of the more than 400 rescued people in the port of Pozzallo and successfully complete the first rescue mission with our new ship SEA-EYE 4. However, the reception was anything but warm.
The first rescue mission of the SEA-EYE 4 has ended successfully. We have summarized the events of this special mission in a video and we have one request.
The more than 400 people on board the SEA-EYE 4 will go ashore in Pozzallo today. The disembarkation is accompanied by racist comments of the official forces on site. Already on Wednesday, Italy harassed those rescued by assigning them a port of safety two days away.
After our crew carried out 6 rescues in short succession, there are now over 400 people on board the SEA-EYE 4. We have summarized the events of the last 3 days and explain what role Frontex and the so-called Libyan Coast Guard have played in this.
Yesterday our new rescue ship SEA-EYE 4 left for the operational area. But yesterday Italy also detained the rescue ship SEA-WATCH 4 again. Drowned people have been part of the EU’s migration policy for years. We will do everything we can to save as many people as possible from the EU’s crosshairs.
The SEA-EYE 4 has left the port of Burriana! Our new rescue ship will soon reinforce civilian rescue capabilities in the central Mediterranean. As long as the EU does not fulfill its duty of sea rescue, civil society must defend human rights.
There is great solidarity among alliance partners. Sea-Watch has proven this once again and actively supports sending the SEA-EYE 4 into action.
Last night, 130 people died in the Med again. These deaths too, could have been prevented. Our spokeswoman Sophie wrote a raw and emotional text for us about what it feels like to her, to see the number of people drowning at our borders rise almost every single day. But it’s also a plea to Europe: We can, and we must do better.