Photo: Erik Marquardt

220 dead and counting: multiple drownings are a direct effect of the crackdown on sea rescue. Sea-Watch calls for humanitarian contingencies

The UNHCR reports that in the last three days approximately 220 have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. This spike in death toll caused the UN agency to call for more rescue capacity at sea, while European governments, with Italy in a leading role, do everything to avoid effective sea rescue. Sea-Watch warned on…

Foto: Erik Marquardt

Shipwreck survivors and bodies stuck on US warship due to italian port closure – Sea-Watch 3 last rescue vessel left in Mediterranean.

41 survivors and 12 deceased in a shipwreck off the Libyan Coast yesterday morning are still stuck on a US warship as Italy closed its ports to rescue vessels. Sea-Watch strongly denounces the fact that once again people in distress at sea are being held in diplomatic limbo. The dispute on migration must not be…

Sea-Watch Update, 8th June 2018

POS REGGIO CALABRIA – SATURDAY 9 JUNE h 0800 The 232 people on board have been at sea for more than 72 hours now, of which two days under bad sea conditions. People are becoming increasingly weakened. The situation is indicative of a worrying lack of search and rescue assets in the Central Mediterranean Sea.…