In Autumn 2015, Sea-Watch began a maritime rescue operation with speedboats off the coast of Lesbos, Greece. In just five months, we were able to save around 4,000 people from drowning. After the EU-Turkey deal in March 2016, the numbers of refugees declined sharply, so we reduced our engagement to observing the situation and put our…
One Day with the Mission Moonbird written by Anja Franke On the evening before take-off, pilot Manos hands me an orange full-body suit. “So that one can find us if we crash over the sea”, he said and I tried to forget my fear of heights. Now the four of us are sitting in the…
On the 19th of August, Worldday of Huminitarian Help, Sea Watch points out: : Civil Rescue Ships are #NotATarget! If we look on the incidents of the last week, we have to say: Seems like this is not clear to everyone. What has happened so far? We have a summary for you: Libyan Coastguards kidnapped Rescueboat…
A new wind is blowing at Europe’s sea borders. The seizure of the aid ship ‘IUVENTA’ seemed to be the zenith of the escalation of events on the Mediterranean route – until Libya last week threatened to hinder rescue operations by NGOs off its own coast, using violence. Several civil rescue organisations have ended their…
“Save a life, and you save the whole world.” Sea-Watch has saved the lives of around 27,000 people since June 2015. Every individual person was alone worth the effort undertaken by our many volunteers. This year in particular, it is becoming increasingly difficult to carry out our humanitarian mission. Libya, a land in the grip…
