Following the rescue of 93 people in distress at sea in international waters on Sunday, 15 March, the rescue vessel Sea-Watch 5 has been forced to declare a state of necessity due to the acute medical situation and Italy’s violation of international law by denying a place of safety. In this situation, entering a port…
DetailsAfter rescuing 93 people in distress in international waters on 15 March and the medical evacuation of nine survivors to Italy — including a two-year-old child in life-threatening condition — the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 is currently sheltering off the coast of Sicily with 84 survivors on board. Severe weather conditions in the Strait of…
DetailsOn March 15, 2026, the Sea-Watch 5 crew rescued 93 people in distress in international waters, including pregnant women, children, and unaccompanied minors. Nine of the rescued individuals had to be evacuated by the Italian coastguard that very same night, including a two-year-old child in life-threatening condition. The Sea-Watch 5 is currently en route to…
DetailsPalermo / Rome / Berlin – Within a few days, two landmark rulings have confirmed the course of civilian sea rescue and put the far-right Italian government in its place. The government is currently planning to revive its 2018 policy of closed ports. It was this very policy that Carola Rackete rebelled against in 2019…
DetailsThis factsheet provides a summary of political developments and operational updates regarding our ships and aircraft from July to December 2025. Download Full Report 1. Political developments The Italian authorities detain NGO aircraft and shut down civilian monitoring over the central Mediterranean Sea Over 60 incidents of violence at sea and yet the EU met…
DetailsBerlin, 12 February 2026 – According to public announcements made on 11 February 2026, the Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is planning the third part of its so-called “security package.” The draft law reportedly seeks to reinstate a naval blockade on civilian sea-rescue operations in the central Mediterranean. At the core of the…
DetailsAhead of the vote in the European Parliament on 10 February, we, the undersigned organisations, urge the Members of the European Parliament to reject the proposed EU-wide list of so-called ‘safe countries of origin’. This list is an instrument to deny access to protection and to legitimize violence and persecution in these countries. One cannot…
DetailsAfter rescuing 18 people from distress at sea in international waters on 24 January 2026, Italian authorities have now detained the German rescue vessel Sea-Watch 5 for 15 days and imposed a financial penalty of €7500 on the organization Sea-Watch. The Italian authorities justify the detention of the vessel by alleging that the rescue organisation…
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