Statement: New Italian government decree will cause more deaths in the Mediterranean Sea

NEW DECREE OBSTRUCTS LIFESAVING RESCUE EFFORTS AT SEA AND WILL CAUSE MORE DEATHS We, civil organisations engaged in search and rescue (SAR) activities in the central Mediterranean Sea, express our gravest concerns regarding the latest attempt by a European government to obstruct assistance to people in distress at sea. A new law decree, signed by the…

‘Call to let people drown’ – Italy’s new Government Decree attacks people on the move and rescue organizations

The civil rescue organization Sea-Watch sharply criticizes the decree passed by the ultra-right Italian government on Dec. 28, 2022. This decree provides that rescue organizations face severe penalties if they do not immediately leave the search and rescue zone after an initial rescue. Shortly before, the government had already introduced a new practice dealing with…

5 questions to our captain Reimar

Reimar is one of the captains of Sea-Watch. During our missions, but also during shipyard times, he makes sure everything runs smoothly from the ship’s bridge. This year he is celebrating Christmas in Flensburg on the Sea-Watch 5.     You are currently on the Sea-Watch 5. How did you come to work on the…

Italy & the civilian sea rescue – When old acquaintances meet new fascism

Since the end of October, the Italian right-wing populist Giorgia Meloni, head of the post-fascist party “Fratelli d’Italia” (Brothers of Italy), is now prime minister of Italy. Together with the Forza Italia around ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Lega around ex-interior minister Matteo Salvini, a fascist alliance of Mussolini nostalgics and politicians dedicated to…

Stoppt die Schiffsunglücke vor Tunesien!

Die Schiffsunglücke und das Verschwinden von Booten mit Menschen auf der Flucht Richtung Italien, nahe der tunesischen Küste, häufen sich seit zwei Jahren. Nach Angaben des FTDES (Tunesisches Forum für wirtschaftliche und soziale Rechte) sind zwischen Anfang des Jahres und Ende November 2022 mehr als 575 Menschen bei dieser Überfahrt ums Leben gekommen. Dabei werden…