Africa: MSF Relaunches Search and Rescue Operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea

press release

Berlin/ Burriana/New York — Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will relaunch its lifesaving search and rescue operations in partnership with Sea-Watch, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that conducts search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea, the international medical humanitarian organization announced today. The organizations plan to return to sea by mid-August on board a new ship, the Sea Watch 4, as European member states continue to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to block search and rescue activities, perpetuate cycles of abuse in Libya, and condemn people to drown at sea.

"Recent state measures to discourage or block life-saving activities in the Mediterranean cloaked in public health rhetoric are reckless and politically motivated," said Oliver Behn, MSF director of operations. "As a medical humanitarian organization, MSF acknowledges the challenges presented by COVID-19. [However] no human being should be left to drown. No human being should be forced to endure torture and suffering. Yet, these are the consequences of [harsh policies] by European governments."

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