This factsheet outlines a summary of the distress cases witnessed in June 2022 by Sea-Watch’s Airborne Operations with the aircraft Seabird 1 and Seabird 2.(1) In June 2022 we flew in the Maltese Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone only, conducting 12 operations with a total flight time of 69 hours and 2 minutes. We spotted 29 boats, carrying around 1.190(2) persons in distress. Unfortunately,…
In 2021, 1.553 people drowned while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Europe. Nevertheless, the European Union and its Member States do not consider it necessary to create safe and legal escape routes. The situation in the Central Mediterranean is politically intentional and is being decided upon again every day. European migration…
This factsheet outlines a summary of the distress cases witnessed in February and March 2022 by Sea-Watch’s Airborne Operations with the aircraft Seabird and Seabird 2.* In February and March 2022 we conducted 12 operations, with a total flight time of 72 hours and 48 minutes. We spotted 2 boats, carrying around 158 persons in distress. Download…
On Friday, April 29th 2022, the German Parliament will vote on the mandate extension of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI. Here, you can find out what this is and why Sea-Watch thinks the German participation in Operation IRINI is a fig leaf. But first: What is IRINI, and how does the German mandate work? EUNAVFOR MED…
The civil sea rescue organization Sea-Watch has filed a lawsuit against Frontex before the General Court of the European Union (EGC) in Luxembourg. Previously, the border protection agency had refused requests under the Freedom of Information Regulation. Specifically, Sea-Watch refers to the case of a pullback on July 30, 2021, in violation of international law,…
