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)Continue reading “30 people drown in the central Mediterranean, more than 24 hours after authorities were urged to launch a rescue”
Tag Archives: EU
‘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. AContinue reading “‘Not a tragedy, but a massacre’”
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, carryingContinue reading “73 dead in shipwreck off Libya, as Italy’s parliament makes it harder for rescuers to save lives”
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,Continue reading “EU-supported Libyan coastguard threatens to shoot at refugee rescuers”
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 accusedContinue reading “Greek prosecutors drop charges against refugee rescuers”
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 theContinue reading “Italy’s far right government makes world’s deadliest migration route ‘even more dangerous’”
Dozens of refugees being pushed back at Lithuanian and Latvian borders with Belarus
Meanwhile, around 40 people remain stuck on an island between Greece and Turkey with no help and no clothes for over a week DOZENS of people are being pushed back at the Lithuanian and Latvian borders with Belarus and left to fend for themselves in the snowy forested area for weeks, Doctors Without Borders (MSF)Continue reading “Dozens of refugees being pushed back at Lithuanian and Latvian borders with Belarus”
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”
The Civil Fleet 