After a 3-month long detention, Refugee Rescue, a small Irish grassroots organisation that runs search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean, return to their life-saving work as part of the Sea-Eye 4 ship.
During their first mission together in May, Refugee Rescue together with Sea Eye, say they saved a total of 408 lives, including 150 children, but were subsequently detained in Palermo by Italian authorities while ‘excessive requirements’ were demanded of the ship.
The ship was finally freed due to assistance from German authorities, but its time in detention left one less vessel in the Mediterranean to assist boats in distress.
In 2021 so far, the number of deaths in the Central Mediterranean are 4 times higher than that of last year.
Refugee Rescue are an Irish search and rescue organization who have gained an international reputation for working tirelessly saving the lives of up to 15,000 people off the Greek island of Lesvos.
The organization was formed in late 2015 by ordinary Irish citizens in response to the refugee crisis unfolding on the borders of Europe.
Now, back on the water in the Central Mediterranean-the deadliest migration route off the Libyan coast- their life-saving rescue vessel, named Mo Chara forms a crucial part of the Sea Eye 4 ship along with its experienced SAR crew.
Over 22,069 women, men and children have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean since 2014. 813 people have already died at sea this year.
On average, 5 people drown attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean route every day, and without any E.U. funded search and rescue missions, these numbers will only continue to rise as they have done since 2020.
The Refugee Rescue team, along with a handful of civil NGO vessels, are working alone, while being regularly detained and often criminalized by local and European authorities.
With the troubling events currently unfolding in Afghanistan and the increasing number of attempted crossings via the Mediterranean due to the refusal of EU authorities to offer safe and legal pathways to asylum, Refugee Rescue are expecting the number of distress cases at sea to rise dramatically in the coming months.
Refugee Rescue was founded by Belfast natives and its Irish volunteers strongly believe that our own legacy of forced migration by sea throughout the Irish struggles of famine and violence, puts us in a unique position to offer not only deep empathy but also solidarity to those who must do the same as we did in search of a better life.
However, to embark on future missions, Refugee Rescue are in urgent need of funds. Help them to continue their life saving work by donating through their website: www.refugeerescue.org
“Our only objective is to ensure the safety of those, women, men, and children who are making the perilous journey away from war, poverty, or persecution. They have the right to life.”–Joby Fox, Belfast Musician and Refugee Rescue Founder
“We are hoping to acquire our own Search and Rescue ship, with focused work and the public’s support. The ship would ideally sail under an Irish flag and would act as a poignant message to those seeking refuge- that we, as a people, understand forced displacement and the often choice-less choice of migration. We are hoping that a broad cross-spectrum of people across Ireland will get behind this vital, life-saving initiative”- Caoimhe Butterly- Board Member of Refugee Rescue and Trainee Psychotherapist
““At the very core of our Irish consciousness we, similarly, are a people who have had to flee persecution and poverty by sea. As a result, Irish culture has spread across the world and has enriched and emboldened many cultures and countries. I believe that, despite our physical distance to the Mediterranean, Ireland should be at the forefront of ensuring the safety of these people.”-Karen Cowley, Wicklow Musician (Wyvern Lingo) and Refugee Rescue Member