Open Arms, Mediterranea and Sea-Watch: saving lives in the Mediterranean together

Open Arms, Mediterranea and Sea-Watch are joining efforts through the alliance #United4Med and are out saving lives in the central Mediterranean together, rescuing people who are adrift, despite the obstacles coming from the European Union governments, especially Italy and Malta.

The three organisations have published a manifesto lamenting a “governmental and judicial strategy to turn actions of solidarity towards people in danger into punishable crimes”. Besides denouncing this they want to raise awareness among citizens to create a Solidarity-based Europe and call for their support, especially that of cities and organisations, and to document human rights violations.

The rescue missions as of now will be done with the vessels Open Arms and Sea-Watch 3, with the support of the aeroplane Moonbird to locate rafts, and monitoring activities for these missions from the vessel Marejonio of the organisation Mediterranea.

Over the last 5 years, more than 17,000 people have died in the Mediterranean; September this year was one of the deadliest months as a consequence of the humanitarian rescue vessels being expelled from the Mediterranean by European governments. One in five people trying to cross the Mediterranean died in the attempt.