Life Support Search and Rescue Missions 1-20
20
Missions completed
1,678
People rescued
2022
Start of activities
This page is an archive for Life Support updates on missions 1-20.
For current updates, please head to the live page.
30 June 2024
Mission 20 Complete: 47 Rescued People Disembark in Livorno
The 47 people rescued by Life Support on 26 June have disembarked at the port of Livorno.
While en route to the port, 3.5 days from where the rescue took place, Life Support received several reports of other boats in distress from Alarm phone, Frontex’s Sparrow 3 aricraft, and via VHF channel 16. However, the Italian MRCC did not authorise the ship to investigate the distress cases, and Life Support had to proceed directly to Livorno.
On board, many of the survivors shared their stories:
“I am from Bangladesh, but I could not support my family and so, being the eldest of my brothers, I had to leave,” said one 22-year-old man. “I arrived in Libya in February, for three months I remained with 25 other people in a house with two rooms and one bathroom. We could not go out: outside the house there were always two people with AK-47s on guard. Then, last Monday, they told us we had to leave. Around midnight they let us out and took us to the beach where there was a dinghy waiting for us. It didn’t look safe but we had no choice. After a few hours of sailing we were lost in the middle of the sea until we saw a plane: after two hours you arrived. I want to reach Europe because I hope to find a job that will allow me to send money home and support my mother’s medical treatment.”
“I thought the situation in Lagos was difficult, but life in Libya is much worse. Deciding to go there was the worst decision of my life,” a 28-year-old Nigerian woman told us. “I worked in the house of a Libyan family for about two years: they treated me like a slave. I was owed a couple of months of my salary and my landlady didn’t want to pay me, so she accused me of stealing and they arrested me straight away. I was in prison for four years. I got out about two years ago and started working again, but I had already realised for a long time that I couldn’t stay in a place like that. So as soon as I earned the money to try to cross the sea, I did. I hope there will be a future for me in Europe, a future I could not have in a country like Nigeria or Libya.”
This was Life Support‘s 31st rescue carried out across 20 missions. “We are starting to prepare the ship once again,” says Carlo, Head of Mission. “Life Support will continue to save lives and bring people to a place of safety.”
27 June 2024
“Very difficult years, without stability or security.”
On board Life Support, a 22-year-old man from South Sudan told us how he fled his country in 2011, and has since travelled through Kenya, Uganda and Sudan to protect himself and his family. “Very difficult years, without stability or security,” he says.
“In 2020, I decided to go to Libya to try to reach Europe. The journey to Libya was difficult and dangerous, especially in the desert: many people travelling with me lost their lives. I did not know how much racial discrimination there was in that country towards sub-Saharan people, but I realised it very soon. And while in prison, I also fell ill: I couldn’t stand up for weeks, I was never so weak and I thought I was going to die.”
He was still a child when he first fled in search of a better existence, which forced him to cross the sea.
On the voyage to the port of Livorno, he told us that he hoped that upon his arrival in Europe, he would “be treated with respect and have the chance to create a new life for myself, far from conflict and injustice.”
It is same the hope we would all have, after such a long journey, for ourselves and our families.
26 June 2024
47 People Rescued
This afternoon, Life Support rescued 47 people from a dinghy in distress, including three women and five unaccompanied children.
The survivors come from countries experiencing extreme conflict, violence, political instability and poverty: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Sudan.
Once they were safe on board Life Support, our medical team examined the rescued people and began treating those with burns and other injuries from the journey. Fortunately, there were no serious medical cases.
“The authorities have assigned us Livorno as a Place of Safety (POS) for disembarkation,” comments Life Support Head of Mission, Carlo Maisano. “We will arrive on Sunday morning after three-and-a-half days at sea. All of the survivors are vulnerable: they have a long journey behind them and have the right to arrive in a safe port as soon as possible. There is no reason for them to stay at sea any longer after all they have experienced.”
6 May 2024
87 Rescued People Disembark in Naples
On the morning of 6 May, 87 people rescued by Life Support disembarked in Naples, completing mission 19.
“It took us three days of navigation to reach the assigned port of Naples,” says Domenico Pugliese, commander of Life Support. “The choice of assigning a distant port exposes the shipwrecked people to further unjustified suffering, when they should be disembarked as soon as possible in a safe place. We now wish them the best for the future.”
On board, one 20-year-old boy from Niger told us:
I was 13 years old and I realised that I had to run away if I wanted to live. I arrived in Libya in 2021. My Libyan boss paid me a pittance and got rich thanks to me. One day I told him that I would always be the one working and he the one enjoying my work: he started beating me. This is how it works in Libya: if you have dark skin, you have no rights and it takes little to be killed. After three years in these conditions, I decided I had to leave. No one decides to leave their country and their family and risk their life if they are not forced to do so by wars, poverty or political repression.”
For more details on Life Support‘s 19th mission and statements from some of the people rescued, read the full press release.
3 May 2024
Life Support Rescues 87 People
On 4 May, the Life Support crew rescued 87 people from an overcrowded boat in distress. The vessel’s tubes were deflated and it had been taking on water for hours.
Among the survivors are eight women, one of whom is pregnant, three children, and fourteen unaccompanied minors. They had no food or water on board.
“The health conditions of those rescued seem good,” reports Sara, one of the nurses on board. “We immediately took charge of the most vulnerable cases: a pregnant woman in her fourth month and a diabetic boy. The children on board are doing well despite the difficult journey they faced and the previous traumas.”
We are now heading towards Naples, the port assigned by the Italian authorities.
10 April 2024
“We experienced the spirit of Ramadan on Life Support.”
“It was difficult to keep the spirit of Ramadan during our journey. Fasting is more than a mechanical act dictated by the sun: it is about sociality, being together, sharing good food and good thoughts. None of this happened while I was in Libya: we didn’t have food, we were starving and couldn’t share anything.”
Among the 202 people who disembarked today in Ravenna was A., a 60-year-old man from Syria. Many of the survivors were observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends today with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
“At home in Damascus, a part of our fasting is also giving food to poor people that can’t afford it. The spirit of Ramadan is about fraternity, about morality. We didn’t experience this in Libya, but we saw it on board your ship.”
10 April 2024
202 Survivors Disembark in Ravenna
This morning, the 202 people rescued by Life Support disembarked in the port of Ravenna after four days of navigation. Among the rescued are 15 women and 18 minors, of whom eight are unaccompanied. Their nationalities include Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Pakistan, Palestine and Syria.
5 April 2024
200 People Rescued in the Libyan SAR Region
Early this morning, Life Support rescued 200 people from two overcrowded boats. Among them are 21 women and 14 minors, 8 of whom are unaccompanied.
“We had one urgent medical case: a boy arrived unconscious. After initial treatment, his condition improved, but we continue to monitor him closely,” reports Sara, a nurse on board.
Travelling close together, both boats had departed from Libya – one from Sabratha and the other from Zawiya. The rescue took place in international waters, in the Libyan SAR region.
The Italian MRCC assigned Ravenna as Place of Safety, about four days of navigation from the rescue site. Once again, a distant port assignment forces people already exhausted and in vulnerable conditions to spend further days at sea, instead of disembarking as soon as possible.
3 April 2024
“Saving Lives in the Abandoned Sea”: New Search and Rescue Report
In December 2022, Life Support set sail on its first mission. Over the next year, it would complete 15 missions and 24 rescues, saving 1,219 people in the central Mediterranean.
EMERGENCY’s latest report “Saving Lives in the Abandoned Sea: One Year of Life Support” tells the story of the first year of our ship’s search and rescue missions: the outcomes, the difficulties and obstacles encountered by the shipwrecked people and our team in the central Mediterranean, the political and humanitarian context, and the approach to migration across Italy and Europe.
Through survivors’ testimonies and moments from our own search and rescue (SAR) operations, we show what it means to save lives at sea and our collective duties under international maritime and human rights law – despite European political disengagement.
21 March 2024
Disembarkation in Ravenna
After four days of sailing, 71 people rescued by Life Support have disembarked in Ravenna.The rescued people originally came from Bangladesh, Egypt and Eritrea.
On board, one Bangladeshi man shared his story, after years of trying to secure a work permit abroad so that he could support his family:
My family is very poor and had to sell everything they had for me to afford the journey. Over many years I have spent a lot of money, I have applied for visas to go to other countries: Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Algeria, Singapore, even South Africa. After years of waiting and bureaucratic difficulties, I realised that I would not be able to leave through legal channels. I was forced to go to Libya. In this world, there is a lot of discrimination for poor people; in my country, politicians and businessmen get visas without problems and do not have to wait years for a response that never comes. It is not just a problem in my country. In Libya, I met many people who were trying to make the same journey as me because they could not get visas to reach Europe legally. We had one thing in common: poverty.”
17 March 2024
71 People Rescued by Life Support
Among the 71 people rescued overnight by Life Support are a woman and three children. They had been at sea for over 24 hours.
The authorities assigned Ravenna for disembarkation, a port about four days of navigation from where the rescue took place. The continued practice of assigning distant ports forces the survivors, already exhausted, to spend more time at sea instead of disembarking as quickly as possible.
12 March 2024
52 Rescued People Disembark in Catania
The 52 people rescued yesterday by Life Support have disembarked in Catania, Sicily.
“As soon as we welcomed the 52 rescued people on board, our medical staff took care of the cases of dehydration and fatigue,” reported Sara, one of our nurses on board. “During the journey to Catania, they mainly suffered from seasickness due to the difficult weather conditions we encountered. We hope they will have a better life in the near future.”
11 March 2024
52 People Rescued in Libyan SAR Zone
On the morning of 11 March, Life Support responded to a distress case spotted in the international waters of the Libyan SAR Zone after an alert from the NGO Alarm Phone. The 52 rescued people, including a woman and an unaccompanied child, were found on board a 10-metre wooden vessel without any life vests. They came from Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.
Our medical team is working to assess the rescued people while the ship heads toward Catania, the assigned Place of Safety for disembarkation.
10 March 2024
Life Support Denied Possibility to Rescue
On the evening of 9 March, Life Support was denied the opportunity to intervene in aid of 40 shipwrecked people who were spotted on board the Tunisian gas platform MISKAR in the Maltese SAR zone.
The NGO ship refused to assist in the transfer of the people to a Tunisian naval asset, because Tunisia is not a safe country to bring shipwrecked people to. So far, the MISKAR platform has provided no information on the situation.
01 March 2024
Life Support Prepares for Mission 16
Preparations are underway for our return to search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
Life Support is our answer to closed borders, to externalisation policies, to a Europe that continues to ignore its responsibilities.
18 December 2023
21 Rescued People Disembark in Marina di Carrara
For many people, migration means facing violence, abuse, death.
Facing a Europe of containment policies, of externalised borders, of “cooperation agreements” with states that are unsafe for those fleeing, our idea is simple: to be welcomed is a right, to save lives is a duty.
23 November 2023
21 Rescued People Disembark in Marina di Carrara
After more than 72 hours of navigation in poor weather conditions and heavy seas, the 21 people rescued earlier this week have disembarked at the port of Marina di Carrara.
“There is no reason to assign such distant ports, forcing already fragile people to stay at sea even longer,” comments Emanuele, Head of Mission. “This also distances the ships of the civil fleet from the places where their presence is needed and where shipwrecks continue to occur.”
20 November 2023
21 People Rescued on Mission 15
This morning, Life Support rescued 21 people in distress in the Mediterranean, in the Maltese search and rescue zone. Among the rescued was an unaccompanied child.
View this post on Instagram
18 November 2023
A. wants to work as a humanitarian.
Because of war, A. had to leave his home in Syria in 2017.
Standing on the deck of Life Support, he told us, “There is a lot of instability in Syria, it’s really dangerous. You can be kidnapped or killed at any time, for no reason.”
He lived in Sudan and then Lebanon, but was unable to earn a living: “I worked for the Red Cross and Red Crescent, it was a job I was very passionate about but I had to leave Lebanon because of the economic crisis that has affected the country in recent years.”
Then, A. told us, he went to Libya where, he was discriminated against every day because he was a foreigner. So he made the extreme decision: to take a boat to Europe.
From that boat, we brought him to safety on board our ship. Now that he has arrived in Europe, his biggest dream is “to be able to work again in the humanitarian field. To help people.”
14 November 2023
F.L. Dreams of a Better Life
“I am from Tigray, Ethiopia. I fled my country because of the war.
For more than a year in my region there has been an obligation for at least one family member, including women, to enlist – otherwise you are killed.
Only my mother and I are left in my family. She told me to leave before the militia came looking for me. I first ran away to Addis Ababa, but there I could not study or work…
If they had found out I was from Tigray they would have imprisoned me and sent me back. So I fled to Sudan and then to Libya, where I spent eight months in prison.
Sometimes they would hang us by our feet and beat us with pipes, calling our families so they would hear our screams and send the ransom money faster.
My mother had to sell her flat to free me. I just want to live a life of dignity and freedom.“
F.L., 21, rescued in November 2023
11 November 2023
Finally safe in Brindisi, Italy
When we rescued them between 8 and 9 November, they were trying to cross the Mediterranean on fragile and overloaded boats, facing a sea with 3-metre high waves.
Now those 118 people are finally safe in Brindisi, Italy, where they disembarked this morning.
“All the rescued people are well, they are certainly exhausted by the journey. Among them there are some very sensitive cases of people who have suffered violence and torture in Libya that we hope will be taken care of by the local authorities,” explains Emanuele Nannini, Head of Mission.
In the coming days, Life Support will prepare for its next mission, which we hope will begin in the middle of next week.”
9 November 2023
118 People Rescued in Two Operations
Between 8 and 9 November, Life Support rescued 118 people in two operations, including four unaccompanied children.
“Adverse weather conditions made the rescues very complex. During the second rescue there were about three-metre waves,” reports Emanuele Nannini, Head of Mission. Both operations were carried out in international waters in the Maltese SAR Zone.
We were alerted to the status and coordinates of the first distress case by Alarm Phone. The 10-metre wooden vessel was carrying 77 people, had almost run out of fuel and started taking on water. The second case was reported by the Italian MRCC and several commercial vessels that spotted the boat at dawn. The small fibreglass boat had several cracks and took on more water with every wave; the 41 people on board were constantly emptying the hull with buckets.
According to our rescue team, both boats were at immediate risk of capsizing. None of the rescued people were wearing life jackets before the arrival of Life Support.
We are now heading for the port of Brindisi, the Place of Safety assigned by the Italian MRCC.
12 October 2023
“I just want to live in peace and freedom.”
I., a 27-year-old man from Syria, told us this on board Life Support. He was one of 69 people rescued by the ship in October.
He left his country, he says, “because of the difficult living conditions and political situation. Because of the war, when a young man comes of age he is obliged to serve in the army for several years, usually ten.”
“I left because I did not want to become a soldier, I wanted to finish my studies in law. It was not easy to get here and I am sure there will be more difficulties once I arrive in Europe, but I am determined and I do not want to lose hope. I just want to support my family as much as I can and repay Europe for its welcome.”
10 October 2023
Rescued People Disembark in Livorno
The 69 people rescued over the weekend disembarked in Livorno this evening.
“Unfortunately, sailing to Livorno took us several extra days, delaying our presence in the Mediterranean,” says Emanuele Nannini, Head of Mission.
All of the rescued people came from countries suffering from violence, political and economic instability, and environmental disasters. Among them were six women and 17 children, 11 of whom were unaccompanied.
“Although there were many different cultures, lifestyles and personal stories on board, everyone got along very well and we spent the days sailing in an environment of solidarity and friendship,” said Giulia Galati, Cultural Mediator on board. “I felt this from the moment we carried out the second rescue, when I saw that the people from the previous rescue were hugging and helping those who had just arrived.”
8 October 2023
69 People Rescued in 3 Missions
Between 7 and 8 October, Life Support rescued 69 people in three separate missions.
After the first rescue of 21 people on the evening of 7 October, Livorno was assigned as the Place of Safety. En route to Livorno, the Italian MRCC coordinated two more rescues on the morning of 8 October.
“Among them, there is a four-year-old girl who was born with a disability. Fortunately, she is accompanied by her parents,” says Roberto, the Health Coordinator on board.
After the third rescue, we resumed heading toward Livorno but have made ourselves available to the authorities for further rescues. “We continue to monitor the surrounding waters in case there are other boats in difficulty,” explains Emanuele, Head of Mission.
We will continue to do our part to help those in need.
25 September 2023
28 People Rescued by Life Support Disembark in Ravenna
After four days and 740 nautical miles of navigation, the 28 people rescued by Life Support have finally disembarked.
We had to travel all the way to Ravenna, in the northeast of Italy – a port four days away from the rescue site, with the last two spent in rough sea conditions.
The justification given for this port assignment was not to burden the operations of other Italian ports, despite only 28 rescued people on board.
The practise of assigning distant ports is keeping civil rescue ships away from the Mediterranean, the deadliest migration route in the world.
25 September 2023
Update from Emanuele, Head of Mission
On board #LifeSupportSAR, Head of Mission Emanuele tells us about Thursday’s rescue of 28 people in the #Mediterranean. The #POS we have been assigned is #Ravenna. pic.twitter.com/XBb0XklKQs
— EMERGENCY NGO (@emergency_ngo) September 25, 2023
21 September 2023
28 People Rescued by Life Support
28 people rescued by Life Support in the international waters of the Maltese SAR zone. Among the rescued are nine women and eight children, one of whom is unaccompanied. They come from Syria, Libya and Egypt.
“I never knew what freedom was, ever,” says a 42-year-old Syrian man. “Three months ago, I left because I could no longer find enough work to provide for my loved ones. I had to find a solution. Since I’ve been on board I have understood for the first time what it means to feel free.”
7 September 2023
F. left Egypt to feed his family.
“I left Egypt because life there had become untenable: I couldn’t find work, everything is too expensive, it was difficult even to afford food. Sometimes I couldn’t even buy bread for my brothers and sisters… Is that living?”
F. left Egypt so that he could feed his family. “It is my responsibility,” said the 26-year-old.
He lived in Libya for three months. “Enough time for me to see horrible things.”
“I was imprisoned along with other Egyptians,” he told us. “They kept us in a very small house, treated us like animals. They beat us every day, sometimes for no reason, sometimes to get our family members to send them more money. It was terrible.”
When he saw Life Support, F. recounts, “I thought you were Libyans. I was going to jump into the sea, I would have rather drowned than return to prison in Libya. I still can’t believe I was brought to safety.”
2 September 2023
N. left Syria for her son’s future.
“Sometimes, while we were in Libya, I thought about going back. We were living in poor hygienic conditions, especially for such a small child, who needs constant attention. But the only chance we had to give him a better life was across the sea.”
As she told us her story on the deck of Life Support, N. held her son in her arms. He is just 7 months old.
“We had to sell the family home,” she continued. “Only my husband stayed in Syria, taking care of his parents. They are elderly and cannot move.”
Now, on land, she hopes to reach her brother in Germany and give her son a better future, away from war.
23 August 2023
Today, A. and the other rescued people disembarked in Ortona, Italy.
“I wanted to go back to Sudan, to see my family, but the situation there had only gotten worse,” explains A.F., 30. He is one of 40 people rescued by Life Support during its latest mission in the Mediterranean.
A. comes from Darfur, a region in Sudan that has experienced war, famine, floods and epidemics. Today, it is one of the areas most affected by ongoing fighting in the country: yesterday, a rocket fell into the garden of our Paediatric Centre in Nyala, fortunately without doing any damage.
“Before I left, years ago, some of my friends and family were killed. But I suffered in Libya, there was strong racial discrimination. So I tried to cross the Mediterranean.”
A. was a victim of refoulement – illegal push-backs at sea. He was imprisoned for several months in Libya, and was only able to embark again after paying a ransom.
Today, A. and the other rescued people disembarked in Ortona, Italy.
19 August 2023
40 People Rescued
EMERGENCY’s search and rescue ship Life Support rescued 40 men and boys in international waters. They had set off from Khoms, Libya, in a fibreglass boat.
“We have just completed the rescue of 40 people in international waters, they are now all safe on board,” says Carlo Maisano, Head of Mission
The rescued people come from Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria and Sudan, and all seem to be in relatively good health.Life Support is now on its way to its assigned Place of Safety, Ortona.
14 August 2023
The 76 rescued people have disembarked in Naples.
“Thank you! Thank you!” were the shouts as the 76 people rescued by Life Support disembarked in Naples. 24 children – 12 unaccompanied – were among the rescued.
12 August 2023
The authorities have assigned the port of Naples for disembarkation.
“When we carried out the rescue, the wooden boat was stationary and overloaded. We discovered that the hold was empty and this risked unbalancing it,” says Carlo, Life Support’s Head of Mission.
The 76 people rescued last night with #LifeSupportSAR had departed from Libya. The rescue, which took place in international waters in the Maltese SAR zone, was coordinated by the Italian authorities.
The authorities have assigned the port of Naples for disembarkation.
Among the rescued are 7 women and 24 children, 12 of whom are unaccompanied. The youngest is only 7 months old.
10 August 2023
“I still have many scars.”
8 August 2023
“Finally I can be myself.”
“I left Sierra Leone because I am gay. My family disowned me and I had to live in secrecy. I had to pretend to be someone else. What kind of life is that? If I stayed, I would have risked spending my life in prison, being attacked every day, just because of my sexual orientation.
That is why I fled. Instead of dying for being gay, I told myself I might as well try to cross the sea.”
Once safe on board Life Support, 25-year-old M. was able to tell us his story.
“Finally I can be myself, without being discriminated against. Finally, I can live.”
28 July 2023
Y. Had to Leave His Family Behind
“I was held prisoner for 18 months in Libya before I escaped. In Tunisia, I experienced racism and violence. If you are Black in Tunisia they don’t sell you food or water, they don’t rent houses to you, they steal your money and beat you,” says Y., 27. He is one of 184 people rescued in four operations by EMERGENCY’s search and rescue ship Life Support in July.
“Before I left, I had friends who were killed because they were accused of theft. There is no possibility of living there, the situation is volatile. In Sfax, people like me are treated terribly, and no one faces any consequences.”
“Today I am happy because I am alive, but it was not easy. I left my family behind in Cameroon. Not being able to see my mother, my father, my siblings – you lose a piece of your heart when you love your family so much and you have to leave.”
On board Life Support, Y. told us his story. No one should be forced to leave their family, or experience the violence reported in Tunisia and Libya.
21 July 2023
184 Rescued in 4 Operations
Life Support has rescued 184 people in four different rescue operations in international waters, within the Maltese Search and Rescue Zone. Among them are 26 women – 2 of whom are pregnant – and 56 children.
Some had travelled for 30 hours under the blazing sun: “They were dehydrated and had spent far too much time stuck in uncomfortable crouched positions,” reports Virginia, a doctor on board.
Three of the four boats rescued came from the Tunisian route, pointing to the worsening situation for sub-Saharan migrants in the country.
The Italian authorities assigned Lampedusa as the first port for disembarkation, where 13 rescued people disembarked to keep Life Support within capacity. The port of Taranto has been assigned for the rest of the people on board.
8 June 2023
“Now I am afraid we will never see each other again.”
G. and her two-year-old son were rescued by Life Support while crossing the Central Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest migration route.
“The father of my son is now in Libya,” the 22-year-old Eritrean told us. “We wanted to rescue little N. from that hell, but we did not have the money to pay for three people to take the trip. We told ourselves that our son should study and not live in a country where people are killed in the streets.”
Libya is not a safe place for migrants, who often face abuse, detention and extortion.
“My love sacrificed himself,” G. says. “Now I am afraid we will never see each other again.”
5 June 2023
29 People Rescued by Life Support Disembark in Marina di Carrara
The 29 people rescued over the weekend by Life Support disembarked this morning at the assigned Place of Safety, the port of Marina di Carrara.
“The Italian government assigned us a port 662 miles and about 70 hours of navigation away from the rescue site,” says Albert Mayordomo, Life Support’s Head of Mission. “It is a political choice: it is absurd to punish those who save lives on the world’s deadliest migratory route, the Central Mediterranean. In 2023 alone, an average of almost 7 people have died here every day, and more than 5,000 people have been taken back to Libyan camps by the so-called Libyan coast guard.”
“The father of my son is now in Libya,” says a 22-year-old woman from Eritrea who was rescued together with her two-year-old son. “We wanted to rescue little N. from that hell, but we did not have the money to pay for three people to take the trip. We told ourselves that our son should study and not live in a country where people are killed in the streets. My love sacrificed himself. Now I am afraid we will never see each other again.”
2 June 2023
3 women and 1 child among the 29 people rescued today
3 women and 1 child among the 29 people rescued today by EMERGENCY’s Life Support Vessel.
“As soon as we approached, we were hit by a very strong smell of gasoline,” says Albert Mayordomo Life Support’s Head of Mission. “The canisters on board had spilled: some of those on board were soaked in gasoline and, due to a lack of fuel, the vessel would not have been able to carry on for much longer.”
“The rescued people come from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia and Sudan: places suffering from armed conflict and food insecurity,” says Mohamed Hamdi, Cultural Mediator on board Life Support.
25 May 2023
No Sign Of Boat In Distress With 500 On Board
There is still no sign of the boat in distress in the Maltese SAR area that EMERGENCY’s Life Support vessel was going to rescue.
The boat, which had been in contact with the NGO Alarm Phone for two days, had 500 people on board, including at least 45 women, some of them pregnant, and 56 children, one of whom was born during the voyage. The details were communicated by the boat’s passengers to Alarm Phone by satellite phone.
EMERGENCY’s Life Support immediately headed towards the boat’s location to bring shipwrecked people to safety and carried out an active 24-hour search, but since yesterday afternoon, 24 May, there has been no contact from those on board and no trace of the vessel has been found.
The NGO Sea-Watch yesterday carried out a search on two consecutive days with its aircraft, Sea Bird, without finding any clues as to the vessel’s location. Neither Life Support nor Ocean Viking, which patrolled the area, found any signs of shipwreck. Therefore, and given the deteriorating weather, we will be forced to move to another area if we do not find the boat in the next few hours.
24 May 2023
Life Support En Route to 500 People in Distress
The lives of 500 people on a boat in the Maltese SAR zone are at risk.
People on board include 45 women, several of whom are pregnant, and 56 children – one of whom was born last night. Their boat is taking on water. Despite the seriousness of the situation, no authority has so far responded to the request for rescue coordination.
Life Support Mission Coordinator Albert gives an update:
3 May 2023
35 People Rescued by Life Support Disembark in Livorno
After four days of sailing to get from the rescue site to the Place of Safety in Livorno, 35 people rescued on Saturday by Life Support disembarked this morning.
“I was very moved by a young man who, after the rescue, was shaking and in a state of shock: after almost four days of sailing on the overcrowded and precarious vessel they had left on, he thought he would not make it,” says Ahmed, cultural mediator on board. “But in the four days of navigation it took to get from the rescue site to the port of disembarkation, we saw the people on board start to get better.”
The 35 rescued people come from Palestine, Syria and Bangladesh, and include an unaccompanied child.
According to the International Organization for Migration, April 2023 was the deadliest month for people crossing the Central Mediterranean since June 2018; 389 people have died or gone missing along the route.
European governments must organise search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean, and ensure safe and legal routes for migration.
30 April 2023
They had travelled without water or food for almost four days
On a 9-metre boat, they had travelled without water or food for almost four days: the 35 people rescued at 7:20 p.m. yesterday by Life Support in international waters are now safe.
They come from Palestine, Syria, Bangladesh: countries affected by violence, humanitarian crises and food insecurity. Among them is also an unaccompanied child.
“The Italian authorities assigned us the port of Livorno for disembarkation, 4 days and almost 670 nautical miles away from the rescue site,” reports Albert Mayordomo, Project Coordinator on board Life Support. “Assigning distant ports does not comply with international law and unreasonably postpones the assistance the rescued people need.”
Shortly before our rescue, another boat was rescued by a commercial vessel. They are being returned to Libya, in violation of international rules.
19 April 2023
55 Rescued People Disembark at Marina di Carrara
Today, Life Support concluded its fifth mission as 55 rescued people disembarked at Marina di Carrara. The distant port required an extra 2.5 days of sailing through challenging conditions, subjecting the people on board to further distress. Emanuele Nannini, EMERGENCY’s Project Coordinator on board, comments, “Assigning a distant port not only violates international conventions on the law of the sea, but is also cruelty to the rescued people: people who had the right to be brought ashore as soon as possible.”
Among the rescued people, originating from countries experiencing armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, were victims of torture, women fleeing forced marriages and young people who had tried repeatedly to escape Libya but were intercepted and returned each time.
“In Libya, I spent several months in prison,” recalls a 23-year-old Nigerian man. “I watched people die from beatings. There were no windows, they seldom took us outdoors and when it happened I was horrified: in the outside areas of the prison we only saw corpses piled up. They made me call my brother to ask for money. When I finally got out of there I was unrecognisable: my leg was broken, I couldn’t walk, I had been beaten on my genitals and I couldn’t urinate.”
“I am an orphan of both parents, and I left my country because it was at war,” says one of the unaccompanied children on board. “I was told Libya was a very easy passage to Europe. Instead, I stayed there for three years. I was imprisoned there, both by the militias and the traffickers. They wanted me to pay more money for the sea journey: they would undress me, hang me on a hook and torture me. Meanwhile they were filming me so that I would send the video to my family, but I had no one in the world to ask for money and help. That is why, when I saw the dinghy in which we were going to cross the sea, I was not afraid. I was only interested in leaving Libya. When we were without engines in the middle of the sea, completely adrift, everyone on board thought they were going to die and were anxious, but I was ready for any fate. It was enough for me to know that I was no longer in that cursed place.”
15 April 2023
Here in the Mediterranean, we see the real humanitarian crisis on Europe’s shores
We had been at sea for over 12 hours. After a few hours of sailing, the engine stopped working and we started taking on water. We were terrified. Many of us burst into tears when we saw your ship coming to the rescue.”
Today, our search and rescue vessel Life Support rescued 55 people.
When we approached, we found a boat in a very dangerous condition:
“It was so overloaded that many people were riding on the tubulars. The smell of petrol was strong. Their bodies were soaked in petrol, many had burns on their legs and bruises from the conditions of the voyage,” says Albert, one of our rescuers.
Here in the Mediterranean, we see the real humanitarian crisis on Europe’s shores. Today we rescued 55 people, but we will never know how many more, in the same hours, were taken back to Libya or were shipwrecked and drowned in silence.
3 April 2023
Testimonies from Rescued People On Board Life Support
On board Life Support, crew members not only provide critical medical assistance to the people we rescue, but also bear witness to their stories.
One 28-year-old woman and her two-year-old twins were part of the 161 people rescued by Life Support in March. She told us:
I was so afraid for my children. We were at sea for three days, stranded, adrift. Without food, without water. I thought, if something happens to my children, I will never forgive myself.
Learn more about her and others’ stories:
31 March 2023
Chief Officer John MacLeod is critical to Life Support’s search and rescue efforts. Ahead of Mission 5, he explains why he is onboard
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
28 March 2023
EMERGENCY completed the disembarkation of 161 people rescued between the night and morning of 25 March
In the port of Ortona, at 3pm today, EMERGENCY completed the disembarkation of 161 people rescued between the night and morning of 25 March by the ship Life Support in three different rescue operations. All operations at sea were carried out in coordination with the Italian Coast Guard.
On 25 March, EMERGENCY’s ship #LifeSupportSAR rescued 161 people in the #Med during 3 different rescues coordinated with the Italian Coastguard.
We have now begun disembarkation procedures at the port of #Ortona #Italy. pic.twitter.com/eEgPp7ECe9
— EMERGENCY NGO (@emergency_ngo) March 28, 2023
Italian authorities continue to assign Places of Safety far from the rescue areas, extending NGO search and rescue missions.
“Compared to the time it would have taken to reach closer ports, like in Sicily, arriving in Ortona meant an additional two days of sailing. International law stipulates that they should have been taken to a Place of Safety as soon as possible. Life Support could have already been on its way back to international waters to save more lives,” comments Emanuele Nannini, Programme Coordinator on board Life Support. “To reach the port we faced adverse and particularly challenging maritime weather conditions: last night the waves were four metres high and the conditions were difficult both for the crew and for the rescued people on board, who suffered greatly.”
The 161 people are from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Over a third of the survivors are children (61), seven of whom are accompanied and 54 unaccompanied. There are also 26 women on board, three of whom are pregnant.
“We want to return to the Mediterranean as soon as possible, making ourselves available to the competent authorities at sea. During this last mission, we received many reports of boats in trouble in the Mediterranean and especially on the Tunisian route,” continues Nannini. “In fact, we witnessed the effects of Tunisia’s recent policies towards foreigners on its territory and the serious economic crisis that is afflicting the country. On board, the survivors told us how Tunisia risks becoming the new Libya: arbitrary arrests and police violence, armed robberies without anyone intervening, houses set on fire because they are inhabited by foreigners.”
The people EMERGENCY rescued had left from Zwara, Libya, in the first case, and from Sfax, Tunisia, in the second and third. In the latter two cases, the people spent more than three days drifting at sea.
25 March 2023
They were travelling on overcrowded and drifting boats
Today, EMERGENCY’s Life Support vessel rescued 161 people in the Mediterranean Sea during three rescue operations.
Among them were numerous children and babies who had not eaten or drunk for hours, as well as pregnant women.
They were travelling on overcrowded and drifting boats. Some could not stand, “we had to lift them ourselves” says Alberto, a rescuer. “Once they were rescued on board the ship, two people fainted”.
We are now on our way to Ortona, the port assigned to us by the Italian authorities.
But there is still a need in the Mediterranean: we have informed the authorities of the presence of at least four other boats in distress, on the route between Tunisia and Lampedusa, and reiterated our readiness to support the authorities in search and rescue operations.
25 March 2023
They have travelled for more than 20 hours without drinking or eating
Overnight, Life Support rescued 78 people in international waters who were sailing on a 12-metre dinghy. At the time of the rescue, the vessel was already taking on water.
“It was 9pm when we received a report of a boat in difficulty in international waters,” says Emanuele Nannini, Project Coordinator onboard Life Support. “When we arrived on the scene, we found the vessel overcrowded and adrift, with no possibility of using the engine because it had run out of petrol. The dinghy was already structurally damaged – its tubulars were almost deflated. We informed all the authorities and immediately started rescue activities.”
The survivors include 3 women, 1 of whom is pregnant, 28 unaccompanied minors, including a 9-year-old boy, and 2 accompanied children aged 6 and 8.
“From an initial assessment, they are all exhausted and dehydrated. In the coming hours we will examine individual cases.”
Despite Our Ability to Help,
We Were Told Not to Change Course
“During every stage of the rescue on 6 March, we kept in contact and informed the relevant authorities – Italian, Maltese, Libyan and Tunisian. At the end of the operations, the Rome headquarters of the Italian Coast Guard assigned us the port of Brindisi as a place of safety, instructing us to proceed as quickly as possible.
We did so, but while we were sailing we learned of many other boats in distress, south of Lampedusa. Although we were not very close to that area, we offered our availability to lend a hand, to intervene, to support recovery operations precisely because of the exceptional nature of the situation.
10 March 2023
105 Rescued People Disembark in Brindisi
This morning, Life Support arrived at its assigned Place of Safety, the port of Brindisi, to disembark the 105 people rescued on 6 March. The youngest onboard is 2 years old.
“We were on a very small boat. The engine stopped working and we were taking on water,” recalls one of the rescued people from Ivory Coast. “It was night, we were all wet and all around us was darkness. I thought we would not make it. I prayed for all the people who were with me and I thought the whole time about my family and Marianne, the woman I love, who stayed in our country.”
The rescue operation lasted three hours due to the complex situation. The ship’s Captain, Domenico Pugliese, said, “If we had been late in arriving, even by a little, there would have been a tragedy.”
While the survivors are mostly in good health, many of their bodies show the marks of their time in Libya.
“Among the rescued people, there are many cases of dehydration and burns due to the mixture of sea water and fuel. They left the Libyan coasts already debilitated and faced a 12/14-hour journey without drinking,” reports Roberto Maccaroni, SAR Health Officer. “We have seen physical signs that testify to episodes of torture, the presence of previous traumas from the violence they suffered.”
07 March 2023
Life Support Rescues 105 People
Overnight, Life Support carried out a rescue in international waters.
59 men, 17 women (one of whom was seven months pregnant) and 29 minors (25 unaccompanied) were rescued from a rubber boat about 12 metres long, which could no longer sail because the engine had stopped working.
The Place of Safety assigned by the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) is Brindisi.
01 March 2023
Life Support Sets Sail on Third Mission
Yesterday, Life Support set sail from the port of Augusta on its third mission to the Central Mediterranean. It will be the only humanitarian ship covering an extensive area, the only hope of rescue for boats leaving the coasts of North Africa, risking shipwrecks as well as interceptions and returns to Libya.
Emanuele Nannini, Programme Coordinator for Life Support, says, “We are here to rescue those who leave from the Libyan coast, an extremely risky journey especially at a time when the sea has been emptied of humanitarian ships due to the new Italian law, passed on 23 February, that restricts search and rescue activities.”
There are 27 crew members, doctors, mediators and rescuers onboard. We will continue to save lives at sea.
19 February 2023
Disembarkation of 156 People
The 156 people rescued at sea during the second Life Support mission disembarked this morning in the port of Civitavecchia.
#LifeSupportSAR began disembarking 156 rescued people at the port of #Civitavecchia. All adults and minors are in good health. pic.twitter.com/Aesleejq7D
— EMERGENCY NGO (@emergency_ngo) February 19, 2023
They have left the deadly Central Mediterranean behind them. In and every voice and story we heard, there is gratitude for being alive, along with all the pain experienced in Libya.
“I am 26 years old but I have decided not to count the three years I spent in Libya, as if my life stopped there and only resumed today,” said Iusef on the day we rescued him.
View this post on Instagram
16 February 2023
Our Teams Rescue 156 People
In the early hours of the day, Life Support rescued 156 people from two different boats in distress that were in poor condition in international waters. We are currently monitoring their conditions and ensuring care for those in need. Read the press release about the rescues carried out and reports from colleagues onboard.
09 February 2023
Life Support departed from the port of Livorno
Today, Life Support departed from the port of Livorno, embarking on its second search and rescue mission in the Central Mediterranean.
On its first mission, the Life Support team saved 142 people during two consecutive night-time rescues. In 2022, 1,385 people were reported dead or missing in the Central Mediterranean – nearly 4 people every single day.
With our second mission, we will continue to defend human rights by offering direct assistance and care to those most in need, and save lives at sea.
22 December 2022
Life Support arrived in the port of Livorno
This morning, Life Support arrived in the port of Livorno with 142 people who were rescued from two different vessels in the Central Mediterranean.
The survivors come from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Mali, Pakistan and Somalia. They have gruelling experiences of migration behind them, many have told us that they were arbitrarily detained in Libya where they suffered violence of various kinds.
We left on 13 December from Genoa with a single goal: to save lives on the most dangerous migration route on the planet. Thanks to those who have worked so hard to make this first mission a reality, from the team onboard to the everyone who worked to get Life Support ready over the past months.
20 December 2022
“I want to live my life finally”
On Life Support, there is a group of Somali boys. They are skinny and exhausted.
They were rescued on Saturday 17 December from a wooden boat that left from the coast of Libya.
One of them is L.C.
“This is the first time I’ve slept in two years. I was in Libya, working as a builder so I could stay in the country and hoped to cross the sea. I always slept with one eye open at night because they would come and beat me when they felt like it. Sometimes maybe because I was doing something wrong without realising it, sometimes for no reason.
19 December 2022
Second Sea Rescue by Life Support
Life Support is on its way to Livorno – the Place of Safety assigned by the Italian MRCC. 142 rescued people are on board, following two separate night rescues, conducted 24 hours apart.
Due to the darkness and waves, the rescues were challenging for the EMERGENCY rescue team and the staff on board, Carlo (Project Coordinator for Life Support) tells us.
The ‘distressed’ boats we approached were wooden and overcrowded, with people stowed away in the hold. There was a risk of sudden capsizing due to the imbalance caused by the number and location of people on board.
19 December 2022
Second Sea Rescue by Life Support
At approximately 4:30am, EMERGENCY’s Life Support vessel completed the rescue of 72 people who were in international waters, in the Maltese SAR zone, on a boat reported by Alarm Phone.
According to the survivors, the wooden boat, approximately 7 metres long, had left the Libyan coast on the evening of 17 December and had been in the water for more than 24 hours heading towards Lampedusa.
After spotting the boat at risk of capsizing, shortly after 1am, EMERGENCY’s Life Support informed all authorities and immediately activated the rescue team.
“Tonight’s rescue was complicated by sea conditions, which had worsened compared to the last few days, and due to the fact that people were situated on two levels inside the boat,” said Carlo Maisano, coordinator of EMERGENCY’s SAR Programme. “However, the rescue took place without any particular problems.”
Among the 72 survivors are 2 unaccompanied minors from Guinea, 2 Egyptians and 2 Eritreans. All the others are of Pakistani nationality.
“They are mostly dehydrated, due to the duration and conditions of the journey they have made. Our medical team is monitoring the rescued people,” reports Paola Tagliabue, Medical Officer on board Life Support.
The Life Support ship, which left the port of Genoa on 13 December for its first search and rescue mission in the Central Mediterranean, was on its way to Livorno, the Place of Safety assigned by the Italian National Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, when it received the report of the boat in distress.
After this rescue, there are a total of 142 survivors on board Life Support, which has already sent the request for confirmation of the Place of Safety where they are to be disembarked as required by international regulations.
18 December 2022
EMERGENCY’s Life Support Vessel Has Completed Its First Sea Rescue In The Central Mediterranean
We are onboard Life Support now with 70 people. The rescue operation was done lastnight. At around 5am, we finished the recovery. Now, our medical staff is taking care of them. Everything is under control. The rescue operation was not easy because of the lack of light due to night, and conditions that were not stable because of the structure wooden boat, but everything went well because we had a professional team onboard, both in terms of the medical part and rescue. They ready to go on with this kind of operation.
Carlo Maisano, Project Coordinator Life Support
Among the 70 people are 5 women, one of whom is 7 months pregnant, 2 children under the age of 2, and 24 unaccompanied minors aged 13 and over. They come from Somalia, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Mali. They are mostly dehydrated, there are a few cases of scabies, and one person is experiencing convulsions.
Life Support received a report from Alarm Phone of a boat in difficulty in the Libyan SAR area. After locating the boat, Life Support informed all authorities and immediately activated the rescue team.
A Libyan Coast Guard unit was present during the rescue operation and later recovered and destroyed the empty boat.
We asked for a port of safety where we could disembark the survivors. The port of Livorno was assigned to us by the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at 10.59am.
14 December 2022
Life Support, EMERGENCY’s search and rescue ship, has launched its first mission into the Central Mediterranean Sea, one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
Over recent months, we have been working hard to prepare.
An EMERGENCY team is onboard, including a doctor, two nurses, two rescuers and two cultural mediators. Life Support has set sail to save lives. We are proud to join the civil fleet and defend human rights.
Related Posts
