This factsheet outlines a summary of distress cases witnessed by Airborne with Moonbird and Seabird. In June 2020, we flew 14 missions, for 74 hours 01 minute. We spotted more than 953 persons in distress.
Overview of the distress cases, empty boats and dead bodies spotted
Italian Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone
- 2 distress cases were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard and disembarked in Italy
- The outcome of 1 distress case remains uncertain
- Estimated number of persons in distress: more than 56
Maltese Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone
- 1 distress case was intercepted by the Tunisian Coast Guard and disembarked in Tunisia
- 2 distress cases arrived independently in Italy
- 1 distress case was rescued by the Italian Coast Guard and disembarked in Italy
- 1 distress case was rescued by the vessel Mare Jonio operated by the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans and disembarked in Italy
- 3 distress cases were rescued by the vessel Ocean Viking operated by the NGO SOS MEDITERRANEE and disembarked in Italy
- The outcome of 3 distress cases remains uncertain
- Estimated number of persons in distress: around 387
Libyan Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone
- 7 distress cases were (likely) intercepted by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard and disembarked in Libya
- Estimated number of persons in distress: around 510
These missions highlight once again:
- the deadly consequences of European migration policies
- the systematic non-assistance of European Member States and the delegation of rescue operations to the so-called Libyan Coast Guard and Tunisian Coast Guard
- the participation of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex in the interceptions and pull-backs undertaken by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard
- the unjustified and systematic delays of European Member States to take action and save lives in their Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zones
- the need for NGO vessels in the Central Mediterranean in order to uphold the law and save human lives
