Tag: Sea-Watch
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Frontex withholds details about people in distress – while this data apparently goes to coast guards in Libya
The EU border agency only passes on limited information about refugee boats in distress at sea to ships in the vicinity, so that the people are picked up by Libya’s coast guard. This is indicated by data from Sea-Watch. The…
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The first civil rescue ship in the Mediterranean was financed by millionaires, the second by families from Brandenburg
Exactly ten years ago, the “Phoenix” set out to rescue refugees on their way to Europe by sea, followed a year later by the “Sea-Watch”. The approaches behind them could not be more different. “Heroes at sea” was the title…
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Much less seaborne migration to Italy, government in Rome and U.N. report
The number of arrivals via the central Mediterranean route has fallen drastically by 2024. Libya announces an even tougher approach and concludes a new deal with the EU. Compared to 2023, significantly fewer people are arriving in Italy on the…
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Italy wants to stop counter-surveillance across the Mediterranean, but Sea-Watch defies the ban
In 2017, the EU Commission created a backdoor for pushbacks to Libya. In the same year, Sea-Watch began monitoring these human rights violations from the air. This should now come to an end, according to an authority of the far-right…
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Frontex now drops life rafts, first mission in the Mediterranean allegedly successful
At least two surveillance aircraft on Frontex missions have rescue equipment on board. However, critics speak of a “PR measure”. Since 2017, Frontex has set up an aerial surveillance service Mediterranean consisting of chartered aircraft and drones. Some of these…
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Sea rescue at its limits: Italy is blocking ships and wants rescued people to be disembarked in Tunisia
Four civilian rescue ships are currently blocked in Italian ports. Dozens of organizations have therefore issued an “urgent warning”. Citing the so-called Meloni Decree, Italy is blocking four civilian ships conducting search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean. The…
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Libya banned Frontex flights: Planes ignore instructions, drones follow them
In addition to Sea-Watch, Frontex was also banned from flying in the central Mediterranean by Libyan authorities. Experts consider these to be illegal. Frontex and Airbus assign responsibility to each other. For ten months last year, an aircraft belonging to…
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Libyan Coast Guard: Again shooting instead of rescue
The EU Commission supports the Libyan Coast Guard financially and with equipment. In at least five cases, the units have used firearms in maritime distress cases outside their territorial waters. Once again, the Libyan Coast Guard has threatened people in…