Massive SEA-EYE Rescue Mission: 144 individuals saved in the Central Mediterranean Sea

In a dramatic rescue operation, the Sea-Eye 5, a civilian rescue ship, saved 144 individuals from a drifting unseaworthy wooden boat in the Mediterranean on Sunday morning. However, the journey to safety is far from over for the rescued migrants, as they face a long and arduous voyage to the Italian port of Taranto, approximately 40 hours away.

The Sea-Eye 5 received a distress call from Alarm Phone at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Despite the crew's repeated requests to the Italian authorities to head to a closer port, their pleas were denied. The Italian Coast Guard instead ordered the Sea-Eye 5 to bring the approximately 100 people in need of rescue to Taranto.

The situation on board the Sea-Eye 5 is concerning. Some of the rescued individuals are dehydrated and undernourished, and the condition of several people requires immediate medical attention. Dr. Giovanni Cappa, a doctor on board, warns about the deteriorating health condition of the people due to extreme temperatures and cramped conditions caused by the distant disembarkation port.

A pregnant woman is among those rescued, adding to the urgency of the situation. Gorden Isler, chairman of Sea-Eye e.V., expresses his dismay at the current situation, stating that European governments not only fail to establish a state-run rescue operation but also actively hinder the work of civilian helpers like Sea-Eye.

The actions of European governments expose the rescued people to further stress and health-endangering hardships after all they've been through. It is a stark reminder that ten years later, European governments have failed to establish any legal escape routes, forcing people to take life-threatening journeys across the central Mediterranean.

Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Alan Kurdi, Ghalib, and Rehanna, three Syrian refugees who drowned off the coast of Turkey. Their tragic deaths brought the plight of refugees to the forefront of international attention, yet little has changed in the intervening years.

A naval ship was sent by the Italian maritime rescue coordination center to escort the Sea-Eye 5 to Tarent on Monday afternoon. The Italian Coast Guard also took over the medical emergencies and 51 other people south of Lampedusa. However, two people had critical conditions and required medical evacuation.

As the Sea-Eye 5 continues its journey to Taranto, the focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of the rescued migrants. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean and the urgent need for a more humane and effective approach to migration.

Massive SEA-EYE Rescue Mission: 144 individuals saved in the Central Mediterranean Sea