As the fifth rescue in 2022 comes to an end, it is uncertain when the next missions can start. Increased prices and a drop in donations are creating major challenges for Sea-Eye. Now a donation-doubling campaign is helping.
Over the past few days, the crew has been intensively searching for 82 people in distress at sea. Unfortunately, they received no support from the rescue control center in Malta. The fate of the people remains unclear.
On board SEA-EYE 4, a young man from Bangladesh told our crew member Fiona why he left his country and the dangers he faced in Libya.
The rescue ship SEA-EYE 4 has left Trapani for the central Mediterranean. The fifth rescue mission this year was made possible to a large extent by the city of Bochum, which took over a ship sponsorship for the SEA-EYE 4 rescue ship in July.
The refugees come from 23 different countries of origin, in some armed conflicts and wars are being fought. Why are there no safe passages to the EU for these people?
Due to the high number of people, it is difficult for our medical team to provide adequate care to all persons. The health condition of four patients required an evacuation by the Italian Coast Guard.
On Wednesday evening, a distress call reached the SEA-EYE 4. A rubber boat was damaged, water was coming in and people were calling for help. When the rescue ship’s fast rescue boats arrived, the crew faced a dramatic scene in the darkness.
The so-called Libyan Coast Guard was present at two rescues on Wednesday morning. Once they towed a wooden boat to shore, the other time they abducted a group of people in the Libyan civil war.
Data from AlarmPhone and the IOM for the first months in 2022 show the SEA-EYE 4 is still urgently needed. It seems that dying has become the norm, but we will never accept that.
These measures must never become the normality. It must always hurt us deeply in our hearts, because otherwise, we lose nothing less than the human right to life. A joint statement by Sea-Eye, German Doctors, Refugee Rescue and United4Rescue.