More than 300,000 people support the demand

Due to the devastating situation in Afghanistan, Sea-Eye and over 300,000 people demand in an open letter to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to establish safe passages for all people who are now forced to leave the country.

Dear Chancellor:

In deepest concern and dismay we turn to you regarding the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. We do this with over 300,000 supporters who have signed the petition “Create safe passages from Afghanistan” (change.org/create-safe-passages-from-afghanistan).

The situation in Afghanistan is devastating! Thousands of people fear for their lives. The situation in Kabul is extremely dangerous. People have already died at the airport and many still persist in fear of death in the capital, waiting to be evacuated. Meanwhile, the Taliban are searching houses and apartments for their victims and controlling the streets.

However, the violence doesn’t take place in the capital only. The Taliban are also using violence against the population in other parts of the country. The UN reports on ongoing, serious human rights violations. There have been mass executions of civilians and former members of the Afghan security forces. In some regions, girls are no longer allowed to go to school – contrary to the Taliban’s claims – and women’s freedom of movement is restricted. Shabnam Khan Dawran, one of the most important presenters on state television, was deposed by the Taliban. The Taliban force minors to take up arms and the Taliban kill demonstrators during peaceful protests, such as in the cities of Asadabad and Jalalabad.

More than 3 million people have been displaced within the country – more than 500,000 people this year alone. More than 18 million people live in hunger in Afghanistan. Women and girls, as well as human rights activists, women’s rights activists and journalists, are particularly at risk under Taliban rule. However, anyone who opposes the rule and teachings of the Taliban faces severe reprisals, torture and murder. Germany has the duty to take responsibility and must not forget these people.

We therefore call on you together with 300,000 supporters to establish humanitarian corridors from Afghanistan. Currently, it is extremely difficult for many people to leave Afghanistan because the roads and border crossings are controlled by the Taliban. Advocate for opening the borders for all people who need to leave the country now. Coordinate with neighboring countries to do so. Clarify what reception capacities neighboring countries have and establish safe passages to the European Union with your European partners and let the German Federal Republic set a good example. More than 250 municipalities and cities have declared their willingness to take in refugees in the “Safe Havens” alliance. Enable these cities to finally help and take in the people.

Also work on an international level to ensure that countries take in Afghans who are now forced to flee despite the 20-year military operation of the West. The world community can give all Afghans a new life. We are convinced that no Afghan leaves his or her home for no reason. It is the responsibility of Germany and its partners to give all Afghans the opportunity to flee and thus enable them to make a self-determined decision. If Afghans fear for their safety and their lives, safe passages must be open to them. Do not abandon the people in Afghanistan!

As a sea rescue organization, we have seen the suffering caused by the lack of safe passages on our rescue missions in the Mediterranean for years. Not all people want to live in the European Union. But all people want to live in safety. Safe passages enable them to flee in a self-determined and safe manner. Without safe passages, people are forced to cross deserts and board unseaworthy boats. Many people – including children and families – die on their flight. We appeal to you: do not allow this to become the fate of Afghans. Create safe passages from Afghanistan.

Yours sincerely,
Axel Pasligh, Gorden Isler, Joana Weinmann and Sophie Weidenhiller
– from Sea-Eye e. V.

A Reason To Celebrate – But Why?

How was the Geneva Refugee Convention created?

During the two world wars in the 20th century, there were countless refugees, but no legally binding regulation for their protection. However, the need to protect refugees at international level became all too clear during these times. The breakthrough came on July 28, 1951 at a special UN conference in Geneva, when the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees – the central legal document for the protection of refugees – was passed.

What is the content of the Geneva Refugee Convention?

The terms refugees, people on the move, fleeing persons and migrants are often used synonymously. However, the Geneva Refugee Convention defines when a person is considered a “refugee”. It also defines the rights and obligations of refugees.

Why is the Geneva Refugee Convention important for sea rescue?

The prohibition of expulsion and rejection is of particular importance. This means that states cannot deport a refugee to a country where their life or freedom is threatened. That is why people who have fled and who have been rescued from distress in the Mediterranean must be brought to a safe port in the European Union. Since the EU states themselves are not allowed to reject refugees, the EU instructs the so-called Libyan coast guard to intercept refugees at sea and to kidnap and bring them back to the war-torn country. This practice is a massive attack on the Geneva Refugee Convention.

How is the current situation?

The rights of refugees are threatened worldwide. There is no dedicated state-side European sea rescue operation for refugees in the Mediterranean. Instead, the EU is working with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, which is responsible for numerous violent attacks on refugees, including such attacks that have resulted in the death of refugees. In Libya, people find themselves in detention camps where they are facing threats such as torture, rape and other serious human rights violations.

“70 years of the Geneva Refugee Convention are not only a reason to celebrate, but also to be outraged. It is our legal and moral duty to protect people in need. The EU blatantly disregards the rights of refugees at its borders. If we do not protect these people and their rights, we will lose the Geneva Refugee Convention. So this anniversary is also a reminder to protect what must not be lost if we want a more humane world.”
– Sophie Weidenhiller, spokeswoman for Sea-Eye e. V. –

Latest News

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  Italy escalates the obstruction of civil search and rescue13. March 2024
  Last week, the Italian government detained three civilian sea rescue ships on the basis of false accusations: the Humanity 1, the Sea-Watch 5 and the SEA-EYE 4. The SEA-EYE 4 is the first rescue ship to be blocked by the Italian government for 60 days.
• 
  Italy escalates sanctions against rescue ship SEA-EYE 411. March 2024
  Unbelievable, but Italy has detained the SEA-EYE 4 for 60 days and fined it because the crew saved 84 people seeking protection from an illegal pushback by the so-called Libyan coastguard. Three German rescue ships have now been detained: The German government must act now!

Mayor of Palermo makes Sea-Eye crew honorary citizens

On Friday night Mayor Leoluca Orlando made the crew of the SEA-EYE 4 honorary citizens of the city of Palermo. Simultaneously the new rescue ship of the Regensburg sea rescuers was detained by two inspectors of the Italian coast guard.

The same technical reasons as with other civilian rescue ships previously, are now being used to prevent the SEA-EYE 4 from going on further missions.

“In essence, the argument is always the same: German rescue ships would regularly save too many people from drowning and do not have the right certification for such a humanitarian purpose,” says Gorden Isler, chairman of Sea-Eye e. V.

The Italian Coast Guard’s report states: “The large number of persons recovered, which exceeds the number allowed by the said certificate, poses a serious danger to the vessel and the crew”. In total, the inspectors cited 10 reasons for the detention during a 12-hour port state control. What seems especially grotesque is the fact that the captain of the SEA-EYE 4 is said to have violated Article 98 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea by rescuing too many people. Article 98, however, describes the explicit duty of flag states to oblige their captains to engage in rescue operations at sea.

“Our captain carried out the duty of sea rescue in an exemplary manner. He witnessed cases of distress at sea and carried out a safe rescue. The EU states could learn from that,” Isler continues.

By now, four rescue ships under the German flag have been arrested by Italy: the ALAN KURDI, the SEA-WATCH 3, the SEA-WATCH 4 and now the SEA-EYE 4 as well.

The SEA-EYE 4 carried out its first rescue mission in May saving 408 lives, including 150 children. The rescued people were allowed to go ashore in Pozzallo, Sicily, on May 21 and 22, 2021, after the SEA-EYE 4 had spent several days searching for a port of safety. The Italian authorities obstructed and harassed the rescue ship and the rescued people in their search for a port of safety and during disembarkation. Read the full report.

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.

Aid organizations have to operate without any federal support

The crew of the new alliance vessel SEA-EYE 4 rescued more than 400 people from boats that are not suitable for the high seas in six rescue missions during Sunday and Monday, May 16-17, 2021. All people were brought aboard SEA-EYE 4 and were medically examined. Among the rescued are many children, an 8-month young baby and several pregnant women.

“The EU states have escalated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean. Fleeing becomes more and more dangerous as people do not even dare to call for help anymore, because the European rescue coordination centers only send them the so-called Libyan coast guard”, says Gorden Isler, chairman of Sea-Eye e. V.

“The SEA-EYE 4 has saved lives for the first time – what great news! We are very happy and proud that our second alliance ship was able to bring more than 400 people to safety. The duty to rescue at sea is an international law – even if this duty is currently only carried out by civilian sea rescue and not by the member states of the EU”, says Thies Gundlach, Chairman of United4Rescue.

For the first time German Doctors supports a rescue mission of Sea-Eye operationally. On board, mission doctor, Stefan Mees, examined the rescued people: “We had to treat 25 people in the onboard hospital for a longer time. Among them three pregnant women – one in her 8th month. 3 small children were also in a bad condition; however, we were able to stabilize them in the meantime. One man was diagnosed with pneumonia. To be on the safe side, we performed a corona test on him, which fortunately turned out negative. The main problems are: Hypothermia, dehydration, malnutrition as well as seasickness, and fainting.”

So-called Libyan coast guard abducts hundreds of people to civil war country

In the last 48 hours, the so-called Libyan coast guard has dragged hundreds of people back to the civil war country. They are thus threatened with internment and serious human rights violations. As media reports have shown, Frontex is cooperating with the so-called Libyan coast guard. The crew of the SEA-EYE 4 has also already observed this. For example, on Friday, the crew received a distress call from about 50 people on a small wooden boat forwarded by Alarm Phone. When the crew found the boat, there was no trace of the people. During the operation, the SEA-EYE 4 sighted a Frontex aircraft.

“Since Frontex directly or indirectly communicates the coordinates of boats carrying people who seek protection to the so-called Libyan coast guard, we have to assume that these people have been victims of another illegal refoulement at the instruction of EU states and that the people have been returned to Libya’s detention camps”, Isler said.

During the third rescue yesterday, the crew became aware of a boat because a Frontex aircraft was circling not far from SEA-EYE 4, but without directly informing Sea-Eye about the maritime emergency. There were another 50 people on the boat.

“EU states are using the Libyan coast guard to drag people into a civil war that has lasted more than a decade. Everyone knows what is currently happening. The EU states would rather see these people dead or in Libya than take responsibility for them”, Isler said.