SOS Méditerranée

SOS Méditerranée is a European, maritime-humanitarian organisation for the rescue of life in the Mediterranean sea. The organization chartered the rescue vessel Aquarius in order to save people in distress in the Central Mediterranean – the in the world’s most deadly migration route. [1] The group was founded in June 2015 by German former captain Klaus Vogel and Frenchwoman Sophie Beau. Its headquarters are based in Marseille, France.

European migration

The organization is best known for its actions during the European migrant crisis of rescuing migrants from sinking vessels in and around Libyan territorial waters and providing their passengers safe transport to European ports. Since the start of the rescue operation in 2015, the Aquarius has saved more than 9000 lives. They are considered a "taxi service for migrants" by Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini[2] and have been denied entry to Italy and Malta.[3] They are closely associated with another French organisation, Doctors Without Borders. SOS Méditerranée clashed with Libyan coastguards during 2017 for their failure to "respect Libyan sovereignty" but have since reached compromise to operate within their waters.[4]

Network

SOS Méditerranée works as a European association with teams in Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland in a European network, jointly financing and operating the rescue ship Aquarius, which has been in continuous operation since February 2016 in international waters between Italy and Libya.

The medical care has been provided by Doctors without Borders since May 2016.

The Aquarius

It is a robust and seaworthy ship that offers wide spaces below deck, making it very suitable for year-round use as a rescue ship in the Mediterranean. Until 2009 the Aquarius was operated as a fishery protection vessel.

  • Size: Length 77 m/Width 11.8 m/Draught 5.6 m
  • Crew: Nautical and Technical Crew of 10 + Search and Rescue and Medical Crew
  • Rescue capacity: 200 – 550 people
  • Costs per day: 11.000 €

Funding

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a non-profit association and is financed exclusively through private donations.

Its partner Doctors Without Borders (MSF) contributes to the monthly costs for the Aquarius and staffs the medical team on board.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://sosmediterranee.org/
  2. ↑ Nick Squires, "Rescue boat carrying 600 migrants stranded in Mediterranean in stand-off between Italy and Malta", The Telegraph (11 June 2018). Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Spain urged to take in migrants abandoned by Malta and Italy", The Local (11 June 2018). Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  4. ↑ John Henley & Angela Giuffrida, "Three NGOs halt Mediterranean migrant rescues after Libyan hostility", The Guardian (14.8.2017).


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