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ACTIVISTS issued an urgent warning to European governments today that their obstruction of civilian search and rescue efforts in the central Mediterranean is costing lives.
Fifty-six organisations, which include Compass Collective, SOS Humanity and SOS Mediterranee, signed a joint statement saying they were “horrified by the preventable deaths which happen year in, year out.”
Search and rescue ships are urgently needed to prevent further loss of life on the deadliest migration route in the world; but the groups say EU member states, most prominently Italy, are actively obstructing civilian search and rescue efforts.
They point out that three fully equipped search and rescue vessels — the Aurora, Open Arms and Sea-Eye 4 — have been prevented from operating at sea.
Among their demands, the organisations want the release of all rescue ships and for Italy’s law restricting non-governmental organisations’ search and rescue activities in the central Mediterranean to be immediately revoked.
They are also calling on the European Union to create legal and safe corridors “to prevent people from being forced onto unseaworthy boats in search of safety.”
