Saving lives is not a crime. But for the past few years, European governments have increasingly tried to criminalise those brave enough to help refugees at sea and the edges of Fortress Europe.
The Civil Fleet (run by journalist Ben Cowles) intends to highlight this, and raise awareness of the activist-led refugee rescue and support missions in the Mediterranean and across the continent.
Latest Stories
Libyan Coastguards intercept 80 refugees after harassing rescuers for days
RESCUERS witnessed the EU-supported Libyan Coastguards snatch around 80 refugees in the central Mediterranean today, and force them back to Libya. The rescue ships Louise Michel and Humanity 1 saved the lives of over 100 people from a severely overcrowded rubber boat in international waters around 7am local time this morning. The crews worked togetherContinue reading “Libyan Coastguards intercept 80 refugees after harassing rescuers for days”
Refugees trapped at Poland-Belarus border are freezing, starving and sick, some are being sexually abused by border guards, activists say
Meanwhile, rescues resume in the Mediterranean despite Libyan Coastguard’s efforts to stop them PEOPLE trapped at the Poland-Belarus border are suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, hypothermia, frost bite and worse, some are even being sexually abused by border guards on both sides, activists warned today. Grupa Granica, a Polish human rights and medical aid group, andContinue reading “Refugees trapped at Poland-Belarus border are freezing, starving and sick, some are being sexually abused by border guards, activists say”
Rescuers relieved after France provides port, but angered by ‘dire ordeal’ they have been put through
Three-week journey almost over for the 230 remaining survivors aboard the Ocean Viking IT WAS with a mixture of relief and anger that rescuers welcomed the news today that they had finally been given permission to disembark over 200 refugees in a safe port. The Ocean Viking rescue ship is heading to Toulon, southern France,Continue reading “Rescuers relieved after France provides port, but angered by ‘dire ordeal’ they have been put through”
Rescuers vow to continue saving lives in the Mediterranean after Italy ends four-day stand-off
RESCUERS vowed to continue their life-saving mission in the central Mediterranean today after Italy finally allowed the 250 people stuck aboard two civilian-run ships to come ashore. The Humanity 1 and Geo Barents rescue ships had been left in limbo in the port of Catania on the island of Sicily since Saturday. The Italian authoritiesContinue reading “Rescuers vow to continue saving lives in the Mediterranean after Italy ends four-day stand-off”
Italy’s far-right government accused of causing further harm to the traumatised refugees on two rescue ships
• Survivors on the Humanity 1 and Geo Barents begin hunger strike in protest against government’s mistreatment • Mission Lifeline disembarks 95 people in southern Italy • Ocean Viking declares emergency and heads to France • Inadequate translations postpone Iuventa pretrial again ITALY’S far-right government is causing further harm to people already traumatised, human rightsContinue reading “Italy’s far-right government accused of causing further harm to the traumatised refugees on two rescue ships”
Rescuers launch legal action against Italy’s far-right government after it refuses to allow all survivors to come ashore
Humanity 1 and Geo Barents left waiting in port with survivors still on board as over 300 refugees remain at sea on the Rise Above and Ocean Viking AN ACTIVIST-RUN search-and-rescue organisation announced today that it is taking legal action again the Italian government after it refused to allow 35 people rescued in the MediterraneanContinue reading “Rescuers launch legal action against Italy’s far-right government after it refuses to allow all survivors to come ashore”
Rescuers call on France, Spain and Greece for help as Italy continues to deny safety to 985 refugees
Meanwhile, the Rise Above saves 77 more lives in the Mediterranean as Sea-Watch proclaims new ship a ‘strong symbol against fascism’ RESCUERS called on the maritime authorities in France, Spain and Greece for help today as Italy and Malta continued to refuse to deny safety to 985 people on three NGO ships off their coasts.Continue reading “Rescuers call on France, Spain and Greece for help as Italy continues to deny safety to 985 refugees”
Italian and Maltese authorities refuse to allow over 980 people to come ashore
The Ocean Viking, Humanity 1 and Geo Barents rescue ships are kept waiting days after rescues OVER 980 people, including hundreds of children, on three activist-run rescue ships have been waiting for days for the Italian maritime authorities to allow them to come ashore. The three ships — the Humanity 1, the Ocean Viking, andContinue reading “Italian and Maltese authorities refuse to allow over 980 people to come ashore”
Louise Michel rescuers forced to attempt port entry without permission after three guests throw themselves overboard
Meanwhile, the Nadir saves the lives of 120 people in the central Mediterranean while Alarm Phone warns 100 others are in danger off the coast of Libya RESCUERS were forced to try to enter an Italian port without permission this morning after some of the 48 people they rescued threw themselves overboard and tried toContinue reading “Louise Michel rescuers forced to attempt port entry without permission after three guests throw themselves overboard”
European authorities ignore Louise Michel’s calls for a port of safety
Crew member tells The Civil Fleet that tensions could rise as the 48 rescued wait for three days while the Italian coastguards saves others EUROPEAN maritime authorities have ignored at least three requests made by the crew of an activist-run refugee rescue ship that is within sight of land. The Louise Michel, a rescue shipContinue reading “European authorities ignore Louise Michel’s calls for a port of safety”
More people die in Home Office asylum-seeker accommodation in first six months of 2022 than in the whole of 2021
MORE people have died while housed at Home Office asylum-seeker accommodation in the first six months of this year than in the whole of 2021, The Civil Fleet can reveal. Twenty-one people, including two newborn babies, died while being housed by the Home Office between January 1 and June 30 this year, figures in aContinue reading “More people die in Home Office asylum-seeker accommodation in first six months of 2022 than in the whole of 2021”
Humanity 1 finally assigned a port, but rescuers warn the 42-hour journey to get there will push the survivors and crew to the limit
Meanwhile, the Open Arms Uno now carries over 400 survivors and the corpse of a 20-year-old Eritrean man THE Humanity 1 rescue ship has finally been assigned a port of safety after spending close to two weeks at sea. “Last night, the 398 rescued on the Humanity 1 were assigned Taranto, Italy as a safeContinue reading “Humanity 1 finally assigned a port, but rescuers warn the 42-hour journey to get there will push the survivors and crew to the limit”
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