Freedom republishes a report from Alarm Phone: UNANSWERED QUESTIONS On December 14, a boat disintegrated in the middle of the English Channel, killing at least four people. The total number of passengers on board has not been confirmed, nor the number of people still missing from the group. Less than two weeks ago, Kent Police
Tag: search and rescue
Italy SAR decree becomes law
Freedom republish a report from Are You Syrious? The Italian government has passed a decree into international law which further criminalises civil groups performing rescues at sea. As reported previously in the Digest, the decree states that rescue ships must disembark their passengers immediately, without undertaking any further rescues. This is against the United Nations
Italy diverts civil fleet ships from Search and Rescue zones
Italian authorities; Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centres (MRCC) have began to divert civil fleet ships from Search and Rescue (SAR) zones, mandating lengthy journeys to an assigned port of disembarkation that force people to travel for hours more at sea, with the risk of worsening weather. On January 26th 2023, the Italian government designated the disembarkation
Is saving lives a crime? The trial of human rights defenders begins in Greece
Searching and rescuing refugees in distress — is this a crime? It is about to be decided. On 10th January 2023, the trial of human rights defenders Sarah Mardini, Seán Binder, Nassos Karakitos and 21 others will begin on the Greek island of Lesvos. The accusations include smuggling, membership of a criminal organisation, money laundering
24 people dead off the coast of Morocco
Search and rescue (SAR) failures off Morocco result in the deaths of more than 20 people On October 13th Alarm Phone alerted the Spanish coastguard to a boat in distress and adrift, carrying 56 people. The Spanish Salvamento confirmed that the Moroccan coastguard was conducting the operation, yet only thirty people were rescued the following