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
Deaths in Home Office asylum-seeker accommodation more than doubled in 2022 over the previous year
Human rights groups condemn government’s ‘abysmal asylum policies’ after The Civil Fleet reveals that 46 people passed away while housed by the Home Office last year FORTY-SIX (46) people, including five newborn babies, died while housed at Home Office asylum-seeker accommodation in 2022 — more than double the number of deaths in 2021. Home Office…
30 people drown in the central Mediterranean, more than 24 hours after authorities were urged to launch a rescue
THIRTY people drowned in the central Mediterranean yesterday after the Italian, Maltese and Libyan maritime authorities failed to come to their rescue over 24 hours after the alarm was raised. Activists from the distress hotline organisation Alarm Phone were contacted by one of the roughly 47 people aboard a boat in the Libyan search-and-rescue (SAR)…
‘Not a tragedy, but a massacre’
Fortress Europe’s migration policies slammed as over 60 people drown in shipwreck off southern Italy while the country’s far right government criminalises rescuers REFUGEE rescue organisations condemned Europe’s migration policies and the criminalisation of rescuers today after at least 60 people, including children and a new born baby, drowned off the coast of Italy. A…
Libyan vessel endangers refugee rescuers in international waters
Italy orders rescue ships Life Support and Aita Mari to sail to distant ports after saving over 180 people A LIBYAN vessel menaced a refugee rescue ship operating in the central Mediterranean earlier this week, an Italian charity revealed today. Emergency made the announcement in a press release today after the crew of their rescue…
73 dead in shipwreck off Libya, as Italy’s parliament makes it harder for rescuers to save lives
Meanwhile, two rescue ships forced to disembark rescued in ports hundreds of miles away AT LEAST 73 people have been reported missing and presumed dead following a shipwreck off the Libyan coast, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced today, as Italy’s parliament made it harder for rescue ships to save lives. “The boat, carrying…
Rescuers disembark people the Italian government would have left to drown
THE CREW of a charity-run refugee rescue ship disembarked over 230 people at a port in north-west Italy today. The Geo Barents, a vessel run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), initially saved 69 people, including 25 minors, from an overcrowded rubber boat in international waters off the coast of Libya on Tuesday. Prior to this…
EU-supported Libyan coastguard threatens to shoot at refugee rescuers
Despite threats NGO ship and reconnaissance plane work together to save the lives of 69 people in the central Mediterranean THE EU-supported Libyan coastguard threatened to shoot at rescue workers in the central Mediterranean today after they witnessed a refugee interception. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) shared video footage from its rescue ship, the Geo Barents,…
Protest in solidarity with Refugees in Libya
MADDIE WAKELING and CRISSIE AMISS report on gathering outside the UNHCR’s office in London last week ON TUESDAY, January 10, a lively group of people gathered outside the London offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as part of a Europe-wide action called by Refugees in Libya. Protestors gathered simultaneously outside UNHCR…
Greek prosecutors drop charges against refugee rescuers
Defendants and activists say victory is only partial as some indictments remain THE DISMISSAL of all misdemeanour charges against 24 refugee rescuers in Greece today is but a partial victory, the defendants and fellow activists said, as some felony charges still remain. The activists, who volunteered with Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI), had been accused…
Greek court to rule on ‘farcical’ charges against refugee rescuers this week
Meanwhile, two Mediterranean rescue ships carrying 110 refugees struggle through high waves and 40-knot winds after Italy forces them to sail over 1,000km to safety A COURT in Greece is to decide later this week whether to drop the “farcical” charges against 24 refugee rescuers after the trial today was postponed to Friday, following procedural…
Air Partner: the Home Office’s little-known deportation fixer
In this reposted article from CORPORATE WATCH, we see how Air Partner and Carlson Wagonlit are the grease spinning the wheels of the UK deportation machine, organising logistics for mass-deportation flights for years. INTERNATIONAL travel megacorp Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) holds a £5.7 million, seven-year contract with the Home Office for the “provision of travel…
Italy’s far right government makes world’s deadliest migration route ‘even more dangerous’
Rescuers publish joint letter condemning a new decree aimed at disrupting Mediterranean refugee rescue missions ITALY’S far-right government has made one of the world’s deadliest migration routes “even more dangerous” after issuing a decree this week that disrupts the way civilian search-and-rescue (SAR) ships operate in the Mediterranean Sea, rescuers said today. One of the…
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The Civil Fleet 