Joint aid operation in central Mediterranean announced

The MSF has announced that its life-saving operation with MOAS will run from May to October, when thousands of people are expected to risk their lives attempting to reach safe haven in Europe.  The organisation said that last year was the deadliest on record for people crossing the Mediterranean with more than 3,400 people losing their lives during their journey.

“This year the death toll is predicted to be even higher, as even less assistance is available to boats in distress,” the MSF announced on their website.

“The Italian navy’s search and rescue operation, Mare Nostrum, was discontinued in November 2014 due to a lack of funding from European governments and has not yet been replaced,” it added.

“Europe has turned its back on people fleeing some of the worst humanitarian crises of our time,” says Arjan Hehenkamp, MSF’s general director.

He added that the decision to close doors and build fences meant that men, women and children were forced to risk their lives and take a desperate journey across the sea.

“Ignoring this situation will not make it go away,” he warned, adding that Europe had both the resources and the responsibility to prevent more deaths on its doorstep and that it should act in order to do so.

“Over the coming months, a joint MSF and MOAS team will be stationed in the central Mediterranean aboard the MY Phoenix, a 40-metre rescue ship,” he announced.

It was explained that the MY Phoenix is equipped with high speed rigid hull inflatable boats and surveillance drones, and that it carries a crew of 20who would provide lifesaving support to those in distress.

“Our motivation is simple,” says MOAS director Martin Xuereb. “No one deserves to die, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that those who feel compelled to undertake this treacherous sea crossing in makeshift vessels do not drown.

“When we launched our operations last year, we rescued 3,000 people in 60 days. We hope to be even more successful this year as we will operate for six months alongside MSF.”

Xuereb explained that until there is a change in policy, Europe’s collective reluctance to provide safe alternatives for those wishing to reach our shores would continue to cost lives. He added that an MSF medical team of two doctors and a nurse would be on board.

“They will be equipped to provide lifesaving emergency care as well as to treat dehydration, fuel burns, severe sunburn and hypothermia, which are expected to be some of the most pressing medical needs of people who may have already spent days at sea,” he added.

“We cannot put an end to the wars and misery which force people to leave their home countries, but we do have a chance to reduce the number of deaths and provide critical assistance to the thousands of human beings who will cross the Mediterranean this summer,” says.

Hehenkamp said that European governments had chosen to prioritise surveillance and border protection over saving lives.