Since the beginning of the week our RIB is finally ready to operate from the harbour of Molyvos, Lesbos. We submitted our official papers to the coast guard. And we have already started to build up a functioning network of volunteers and other organizations, such as the Spanish rescuers of ProActiva Open Arms.
During the day it is more easy to react to distress calls from refugee boats. At night we have to drive especially carefully to not overlook crowded boats in the dense fog. We bought a night sight device to be better equipped for future missions. Furthermore the organization on sight is not satisfying: the operation zones in the water are not allocated and there is no sufficient information structure.
Together with the other authorities on Lesbos we are trying to establish a 24/7 working rescue system for incoming refugees and we are working on building up a sufficient information structure to make the whole rescue network here on Lesbos more efficient.
During our last test drives we were happy to have a Greek disaster manager on board who made it possible for us to cooperate with the coast guard.
