Today, a new policy imposed by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will take effect, which has severe implications on Sea-Watch and other NGOs operating ships under the Dutch flag. The policy change implemented hastily and without a transition period for Sea-Watch, demonstrates the lengths the Dutch government is willing to go to,…
Yesterday, news reports stated that the ‘El Hiblu 1’ is believed to have rescued 108 people off the coast of Libya. Upon discovering that they were being taken back to Libya, the survivors allegedly forced the crew of the bunkering tanker to change course and sail north towards Europe instead. This morning, the Armed Forces…
Achuil has seen too much for a sixteen year old, but on the day that he speaks to me from detention at the Initial Reception Centre in Marsa a hopeful tone never leaves his voice. In 2013, at the outbreak of the ongoing South Sudanese Civil War, his family fled their home to Sudan. But…
After being stranded at sea for 19 days, most of the 49 people rescued last December by Sea Watch and Sea Eye’s boats have now been inside the Marsa Asylum Seekers’ Detention Centre (IRS) in Malta for two months. Anyone who remembers the sad spectacle offered by European governments that for weeks, while these women,…
On Tuesday, Sea-Watch announced its preparedness to begin urgent legal proceedings against the blockade of its rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 in Italy by the government of the Netherlands. Two minutes before the given deadline on Wednesday, the Dutch authorities permitted the ship to sail to its planned shipyard for maintenance. This demonstrates the indefensibility of…
