149 people have been waiting for 7 days on board the ALAN KURDI and still no European solution. Anna, first officer of ALAN KURDI, and Josefin, part of our medical team, report from board.
The European states seem to focus only on the Corona crisis and the impact on Europe. The suffering of refugees is ignored. So the situation on ALAN KURDI is getting worse.
ALAN KURDI received two emergency calls today. In the morning the crew was confronted with Libyan militias who fired into the air. The second rescue was carried out by the ALAN KURDI because a bigger ship refused to initiate rescue operations.
On Monday morning, the ALAN KURDI crew received an emergency call via the NGO Alarm Phone. Militias massively disrupted the subsequent rescue, so that many people were in danger of drowning in the water. In the meantime another emergency has already been reported.
After an eight-week break in the shipyard, the ALAN KURDI sets off for the operational area. Even in the Corona crisis we must not forget the refugees on the Mediterranean. For the safety of the crew the highest security precautions were taken.
Four days ago, Sea-Eye saved 78 people from unseaworthy boats in two operations. Now the Maltese Navy has taken over those rescued at sea. On board, the rescued people had told us about their time on the unseaworthy boats. One was circled by sharks.
On Saturday morning the German rescue ship ALAN KURDI was informed of an emergency at sea. After several hours the boat was found and the people could be saved. Only a few minutes later, ALAN KURDI received a second emergency call.
A few days after Sea-Eye founder Michael Buschheuer was honored for his courage, negotiations are underway in Berlin on Libya’s future. Sea-Eye is addressing important demands to the German government, as the situation in Libya is forcing many people to flee across the Mediterranean Sea.
The rescue ship ALAN KURDI left the port of Palermo on Friday afternoon and is on its way to the central Mediterranean. The goal: Saving Lives. Because a lot of people are still trying to flee across the Mediterranean.
At the end of 2019, we look back and see many individual fates that we were fortunately able to help. We would like to introduce four of these people to you and show you what your help can do.