NGOs who rescue people from drowning at sea are encouraging smugglers who profit from dangerous Mediterranean crossings, Frontex Director Fabrice Leggeri told the German newspaper “DIE WELT” on Feb 27, 2017. The signatories of this statement jointly reject these reproaches which distort the facts. People do not migrate because there are smuggling networks. Smuggling networks…
DetailsProsecutors in Hamburg ended the trial against members of the Libyan Coast Guard, which relates to the attack on a Sea-Watch rescue mission on October 21, 2016. The court justifies its decision on the grounds that even though criminal acts were carried out, the people could not be identified. Federal Government could not provide any…
DetailsAt an informal meeting in Valletta on February 3rd 2017, the 28 EU heads of government will come together to discuss the external dimensions of migration. The main focus will be on the Central Mediterranean route and Libya. Various topics on the agenda are highly problematic. The aim of the summit is to seal off…
DetailsThe winter construction work takes shape, some structural improvements and maintenance work will make the ship even more effective for our rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea this year. Many voluntary activists from all over Europe are working to bring the Sea-Watch 2 to its best form. Some stay two weeks and some even help…
DetailsActivists and hackers join forces to search and rescue refugees in the Mediterranean. Computer-controlled model aircrafts equipped with video cameras and an app are supposed to improve the coordination of rescue missions and to detect refugees in distress at sea more quickly. Sea-Watch and the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) support the SearchWing initiative. “If we…
Details#1 EU loses its humanitarian face EU Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed to end “irregular migration” from Turkey to the EU in March. Closing the borders effectively decreased numbers of passages across the Aegean Sea, but left people without the right to claim asylum and made them vulnerable to human rights violations,…
DetailsSea-Watch strongly rejects the accusation of direct support of migrant smuggling by SAR-NGOs, which was raised by Frontex. “Frontex itself creates the business field for trafficking, since the border protection agency is implementing the EU’s policy of closure. As a result, Frontex is at least complicit for the deaths of over 5,000 people at its…
DetailsIn deep mourning we want to remember all those we were not able to rescue from distress at sea this year. In 2016, a sad record has been broken: The International Organization for Migration counts 4.699 refugees and migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean or are missing (as of 30/11/2016). Never before so many people…
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