This factsheet outlines a summary of political developments and operational updates regarding our ships and aircraft from July to September 2024.
1. Political developments
The “Flussi” Decree-law, a new attempt to hinder our aerial operations
On October 11th, the Italian Government officially published the “Decreto Flussi”, with the aim to target civil airborne operations, including our monitoring aircraft Seabird 1 and Seabird 2.
Tunisia is not a place of safety
Ahead of the Tunisian presidential election on October 6th, numerous human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Sea-Watch and Tunisian organisations such as FTDES, published a statement stressing that Tunisia is not a place of safety for people rescued from distress situations.
2. Aerial Updates
Overview of distress cases and empty boats spotted
In July – September we conducted 51 operations with our aircraft Seabird 1 and Seabird 2, 4 with a total flight time of 297 hours and 22 minutes. We spotted approximately 4,645 persons in distress aboard 91 different boats:
- 907 persons, on board 15 boats in distress, including 2 boats in the Maltese (!) and the Tunisian SAR zones, were intercepted by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard and pulled back to Libya
- 1,173 persons, on board 22 boats in distress, were rescued by the Italian authorities or arrived independently and disembarked in Italy
- 1,191 persons, on board 20 boats in distress, were rescued by NGO vessels and disembarked in Italy
- 15 persons, on board 1 boat in distress, were intercepted by the Tunisian Coast Guard and pulled back to Tunisia
- 28 persons, on board 1 boat in distress, were shipwrecked, where 21 persons went missing
- The outcomes for 1,331 persons, on board 32 boats in distress, remain uncertain
3. Ship Updates
Between July and September 2024, Sea-Watch conducted 3 operations with its ships Aurora and Sea-Watch 5. The crews were able to rescue 516 persons in distress from 5 boats. Again civil society fills the gap left by the European authorities in the central Mediterranean Sea.
On July 20th, Sea-Watch’s fast rescue asset Aurora rescued 71 persons together with the NGO ship Trotamar 3 within the Tunisian SAR zone.
On July 25th, Sea-Watch’s larger ship Sea-Watch 5 rescued 156 persons from two boats in the Libyan SAR zone, after a first sighting of the first boat by Seabird 2.
On August 31st, the Sea-Watch 5 rescued 289 persons in distress from 4 different boats in the Libyan SAR zone. After 4 days of transit – the Italian authorities detained the Sea-Watch 5 based on the “Piantedosi Decree” and imposed a fine of up to €10,000.
