"What happens in the ports is against international law": Sea-Eye rescues refugees from the Mediterranean

Created: 2022-12-07 04:47

By: Katrin Woitsch

Operation in the Mediterranean: Sea-Eye's helpers rescue refugees from a broken inflatable boat.

© Sea Eye

Across the Mediterranean to Europe: Aid organizations save refugees from drowning.

On board the Regensburg Sea-Eye for the next mission is Andreas Krahl, member of the state parliament.

He goes along as a paramedic.

Regensburg – It will not be an easy mission.

Everyone who is boarding the Sea-Eye 4 this week knows that.

Nevertheless, they are glad that the ship can start.

Because almost every day overcrowded refugee boats leave the Libyan coast - many of them never arrive in Europe.

The Regensburg aid organization Sea-Eye has been traveling in the Mediterranean for years to save people from drowning.

Rescue mission with headwind: Regensburg Sea-Eye is struggling with problems

It was never easy, but it gets harder every year.

One reason is that a mission is very expensive.

"We need 3.2 million euros to be able to fund seven missions a year," says Sea Eye Chairman Gorden Isler.

However, donations have declined – certainly also because there are so many crises in the world, believes Isler.

"Many are rightly supporting people in Ukraine, Iran or Afghanistan with their donations."

And many simply don't have enough money left over to support the work of the sea rescuers.

Sea-Eye therefore had to plan with one less mission this year.

But money isn't the only problem the charity is struggling with.

The flight movements are increasing.

"Although the European borders are being sealed off more and more rigorously," says Isler.

The volunteers on the current mission will feel the change of government in Italy, he fears.

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Ships of the aid organization often have to hold out for days

In recent years it has been difficult to find a safe haven where rescued migrants can disembark.

The ships of the aid organizations often had to hold out for days before people were allowed to disembark.

Italy's new right-wing conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had already announced a tough course against migrants and sea rescuers.

"What happened in the ports violated international law," emphasizes Isler.

"It is unacceptable for politicians or officials from the Frontex border protection agency to decide who needs help and can apply for asylum." Isler expects the crew to face a tough mission.

"But this is not new to us," he says.

"We are prepared, there are experienced people on board."

Member of the state parliament Andreas Krahl at the mission over Christmas

Many of them have already completed several missions.

One of them is Andreas Krahl, member of the Greens' state parliament and Vice-President of the BRR, from Murnau.

He is a trained nurse and paramedic - he will also be in this role on the Sea-Eye 4, he emphasizes.

He wants to help – directly, not from his desk.

Sea-Eye asked him last year if he would be on a mission as a parliamentary observer.

"But I didn't want to watch," says Krahl.

“I'd rather do what I've learned.” On the ship, he doesn't want to discuss the fact that he's also a member of the Bavarian state parliament.

"I'm a paramedic," he says.

"I don't want any special treatment." Of course, the 33-year-old knows the political debates about sea rescue well enough to know what he's getting himself into.

It is planned that he will be on the ship over Christmas until the end of the year.

“These ships have to sail”

During its mission last year, the ship was not allowed to leave the port in Sicily for ten days.

It is therefore unclear how long the mission will actually last.

"I am firmly convinced that these ships have to sail," emphasizes Krahl.

He also does not want to discuss this with opponents of sea rescue.

"But we should talk about how Italy deals with the ships of the aid organizations" - he also says that as a politician.

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