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
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”
Humanity 1 running out of food, water and medical supplies for 398 refugees
European authorities ignore crew’s 16 calls for a port to disembark the rescued AN ACTIVIST-RUN rescue ship carrying over 390 survivors in the central Mediterranean is running out of water, food, medical supplies and baby milk powder, the crew warned today after their 16th call to the European maritime authorities went unanswered. The situation aboardContinue reading “Humanity 1 running out of food, water and medical supplies for 398 refugees”
Rescuers save 207 refugees stranded at sea for over a week
The three-month-old baby that was feared dead is alive, SOS Humanity confirms. The rescued now join 208 others aboard the Humanity 1, while over 500 more wait for dry land on two other NGO ships ACTIVIST rescuers reached a refugee boat in the central Mediterranean last night that had been adrift for over a weekContinue reading “Rescuers save 207 refugees stranded at sea for over a week”
Rescuers race towards 207 people stranded for days without food, water, or help from the European authorities
The Humanity 1, which changed course yesterday and is nearing the boat’s last known position, is already carrying 208 survivors AN ACTIVIST-RUN refugee rescue ship is racing towards a boat carrying about 207 people* adrift in the central Mediterranean for over a week, and without food or water or assistance from the authorities for days.Continue reading “Rescuers race towards 207 people stranded for days without food, water, or help from the European authorities”
Four-year-old girl dies after Greece and Malta failed to launch rescue three days after activists raised the alarm
‘A choice of non-assistance by responsible European authorities has produced suffering and death’ THE Greek and Maltese maritime authorities were blamed for the death of a four-year-old girl who died today — three days after activists alerted them to her boat in distress. The girl was part of a group of around 60 people whoContinue reading “Four-year-old girl dies after Greece and Malta failed to launch rescue three days after activists raised the alarm”
UNHCR official accused of ‘victim blaming’ the mothers of missing refugees in the Mediterranean
ACTIVISTS accused a United Nation’s refugee agency (UNHCR) official of “victim blaming” today after he took to social media to criticise the mothers of missing migrants and refugees. In Tunisia today, human rights activists and civil society organisations took part in a commemorative protest, or “CommemorAction,” with relatives of the thousands of people that haveContinue reading “UNHCR official accused of ‘victim blaming’ the mothers of missing refugees in the Mediterranean”
Seven years since Alan Kurdi’s tragic death, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas have become a mass graveyard
Activist tell The Civil Fleet how the situation for the people at Fortress Europe’s walls has only got worse since the two-year-old boy’s lifeless body was seen across the world IN THE seven years since the tragic death of the two-year-old Syrian-Kurdish boy Alan Kurdi, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas have become a mass graveyard,Continue reading “Seven years since Alan Kurdi’s tragic death, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas have become a mass graveyard”
Malta abandons 80 people in distress in its search-and-rescue area
The island nation orders merchant vessel not to help them. Meanwhile, over 700 rescued refugees on two NGO ships wait for land MALTA has abandoned about 60 to 80 people stranded within in its Mediterranean search-and-rescue (SAR) area today and ordered a merchant vessel not to help them, activists have warned. Alarm Phone, an activistContinue reading “Malta abandons 80 people in distress in its search-and-rescue area”
Greece and Turkey abandon Syrian refugees trapped on island for over a week
Both countries refuse to take responsibility for around 70 people in distress, and claim the island is not their territory THE governments of Greece and Turkey ignored calls today to launch an urgent rescue of Syrian refugees trapped for over a week on an islet in the river that separates the two countries. About 70Continue reading “Greece and Turkey abandon Syrian refugees trapped on island for over a week”
Refugees attempt to jump overboard as European authorities leave them stranded at sea for over a week
MSF, SOS Mediterranean and Sea-Watch call on European states to resume search-and-rescue missions as thousands continue to flee Libya TWO refugees aboard an NGO ship have attempted to throw themselves into the Mediterranean Sea, their rescuers said today as the European authorities fail to act on 13 requests for a safe port. The Geo Barents,Continue reading “Refugees attempt to jump overboard as European authorities leave them stranded at sea for over a week”
Geo Barents saves hundreds of refugees in just over 24 hours
Meanwhile, the authorities refuse to aid over 800 others aboard the Sea-Watch 3 and Ocean Viking A CIVILIAN rescue ship has saved the lives of over 200 people in the central Mediterranean in less than 48 hours, while the authorities continue to ignore over 800 refugees aboard two other vessels. The Geo Barents, operated byContinue reading “Geo Barents saves hundreds of refugees in just over 24 hours”
A day for ‘sadness and rage’ as pregnant woman dies and 22 others go missing at Europe’s deadly Mediterranean border
MSF’s Geo Barents rescue ship pulls 71 people from shipwreck RESCUERS reacted with “sadness and rage” today following news of the death of a pregnant woman and 22 others in the central Mediterranean yesterday. The Geo Barents rescue ship came upon a sinking rubber boat in the evening after her crew was alerted to aContinue reading “A day for ‘sadness and rage’ as pregnant woman dies and 22 others go missing at Europe’s deadly Mediterranean border”
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