Tag: Sea-Watch
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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…
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“Protection you can afford”: Successful passage from Libya is question of money
A presentation by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees gives important figures on people fleeing across the Mediterranean. Accordingly, the Libyan coast guard intercepts mainly people from Mali, the average failure rate for crossings is 33 percent. The UN document…
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Sea-Watch flies again: Flight bans by Libya contrary to international law
After a ten-month break, the “Seabird 2” is back over the central Mediterranean. With this aircraft, the pilots detect sea emergencies and notify nearby ships for rescue. The sea rescue organisation Sea-Watch has resumed its aerial reconnaissance over the central…
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Sea rescue: Italy is breaking international law
Captains of private sea rescue ships are supposed to question rescued persons about their wish for asylum and ignore further emergencies. The United Nations and a new Bundestag report criticise these new Italian rules. The Italian government coalition under the…
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EU aerial surveillance for Libya makes Tripoli coastguard doing the “dirty work”
The European border agency observes boats with refugees from the air and lets them be brought back to North Africa. A new report by human rights organisations criticises this as “Airborne Complicity”. The European Union has withdrawn ships from the…
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After years of EU funding: Maritime emergency centre in Libya “not operational”
Since 2017, the EU has invested in one project alone at least €57 million to counter migration from Libya. The Brussels backers also are worried about their reputation. Since the so-called “migration crisis”, the European Union has been investing in…