🆘WHO WILL RESCUE 3 BOATS IN URGENT DISTRESS? Armed Forces Malta spotted 3 boats in distress in international waters/Libyan SAR via air surveillance & 2 of the boats called #AlarmPhone earlier today. All relevant authorities are alerted but so far nobody has taken responsibility!
Email exchanges between #Malta & #Libya that included #AlarmPhone reveal a rejection of responsibility by #Europe. While the so-called Libyan coastguards claim to have no assets at their disposal, Malta implies its assets are tied to other SAR events.
At 14.01h CET the so-called Libyan Navy Coast Guard (LNCG) stated in an email to RCC Malta: “Regarding the three Rubber Boat reported from your MPA [Maritime Patrol Aircraft], we don’t have any LNCG assets for engaging in SAR events.”
At 15.03h, RCC #Malta stated: “RCC Malta has issued a NAVTEX to all shipping in area for your coordination ... You are therefore being encouraged to coordinate with all means including private shipping in the area.” According to Malta, 2 French Navy assets are in the area.
At 16.20h, RCC Malta told us on the phone that they were not responsible and that they sent the NAVTEX merely on behalf of the so-called Libyan coastguards. When we stated that LNCG had asked RCC Malta to intervene, the Maltese officer stated: “no, they did not”.
We call on all actors involved, including commercial vessels in the area of distress, to immediately rescue the people in need & to bring them to a place of safety in #Europe. Returning them to #Libya would violate international conventions & expose the survivors to grave danger.
#Malta confirmed this evening that #OceanViking would search for 1 of 2 boats in distress off the coast of #Libya. They also confirmed that for a 2nd boat assumed now inside Malta SAR, “RCC Malta shall assume coordination for this case and will dispatch the necessary assistance.”
🔸UPDATE: We can now confirm that all three boats in distress have been found and rescued! #Malta and #OceanViking rescued two of the boats that had called #AlarmPhone, and the SAR #NGO rescued also the third boat which had not reached out to us.
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Alarm Phone is contact with 47 people in a boat adrift who fled from #Libya. Weather is extremely dangerous and immediate rescue is needed!!
The merchant vessel BASILIS L is on its way to the boat in distress in order to assist the 47 people. However, we fear that it will return the people to #Libya. They need to be brought to a place of safety, not to the torturous conditions of Libya!
Pullback in the making!!!
The merchant vessel #BasilisL reached the boat but is only monitoring it until the sc Libyan Coastguard arrives to force the people back to #Libya, where they had tried to escape from.
Stop this pullback! They need to be brought to a place of safety!
"Bonjour mon frère, nous sommes dans un bateau et nous avons un problème, s'il vous plaît aidez-nous. Euh, il y a des enfants, des familles - il y a de l’eau qui rentre (dans le bateau) - nous n'avons rien pour le sauvetage pour la sécurité. " @Utopia_56
Le fait que la position initialement donnée par les personnes en détresse était proche de la ligne séparant les eaux françaises et britanniques soulève des questions urgentes sur la coopération entre les services de secours pour effectuer le sauvetage de ce bateau.
Nous tenons à reconnaître les efforts de tous les acteurs de la recherche& sauvetage dans la Manche, dans ce et bien d’autres cas. Il reste néanmoins une question : pourquoi ces 43 personnes et des milliers d'autres ont-elles été obligées d'entreprendre un si dangereux voyage ?
🚩Alarm Phone Statement on the deadly incident in the #Channel today.
“Hello brother we are in a boat and we have a problem please help. Uh, we have children and family … water coming ... we don't have anything for rescue for ... safety.” @Utopia_56 alarmphone.org/en/2022/12/14/…
The fact that the position of the initial rescue operation was on the border line between French and British waters raises urgent questions on the cooperation of the Coastguards to make sure this boat was rescued.
While we ought to recognise the efforts of all search and rescue actors in this case and over the past months in the Channel the final question remains: why were these 43 people and thousands of others forced to make such a dangerous journey?
🆘 Relatives informed us about a group stranded on an islet on #Evros river. The position they sent shows the people on #Greek territory. On the phone, the border guard station of #Soufli promised a quick rescue. We have no direct contact with the group & hope help is on its way!
The officer on duty of the border guard station in #Soufli told us on the phone that they have sent a team to the location but could not find the people. In the past, this line was used to cover up #pushbacks. We are worried - where are these people?
The people called us directly today & appear to be on the Greek bank of #Evros river. They report they are ~40 people incl. 10 children & 16 women, many with serious medical conditions. They say that 2 persons went missing during a #pushback & a woman could give birth any moment.
🆘~70 people adrift in Malta Search and Rescue zone!
Alarm Phone alerted RCC #Malta via email, but, once again, they are not reachable on the phone. The people in distress report that the engine stopped and that they need rescue urgently! Don't waste time, rescue now!
The approximately 70 people were able to restart their engine but have now run out of fuel! They report that one person on board has died, just 25 nautical miles from the Italian SAR. We have alerted authorities several times already - rescue is needed urgently!
🚩Don't forget them at sea!
The ~70 people called us again, nobody came to rescue them yet. The people are suffering as they don't have food and fuel is out as well. We urgently demand to rescue the group to prevent a tragedy at night!
Overnight, the situation became even worse. More people were pushed back to the islet & the group now consists of 70 people. The people reported shootings from border authorities. They still cannot move away from the islet & are exhausted.
We also contacted @Frontex which is active in the region, and asked how they address this situation. We received no answer. Once more, Frontex backs up their partners & their murderous practice.
End the blockade - let them move!
This group continues to be subjected to all kinds of physical & psychological violence. In their last message that came in over night, they report: 'Hell is really here. A little girl died today. She was stung by a scorpion. We couldn't do anything'.