Sea-Watch 4: Endlich ein sicherer Hafen für gerettete Menschen

03.09.2020
Elf Tage nach der ersten Seenotrettung konnte die Sea-Watch 4 endlich im Hafen von Palermo in Italien anlegen. Tagelang mussten die 353 geretteten Männer, Frauen und Kinder auf dem Rettungsschiff darauf warten, in einem sicheren Hafen von Bord gehen zu können.
Rotation01_Rescue02
MSF/Hannah Wallace Bowman
At the dawn of August 23, 2020, seawatch MSF teams rescued 97 people from an overcrowded rubber boat. The men, women & children in distress were spotted in international waters, some 30 nautical miles from Libya.

Die Erleichterung war groß. Elf Tage nach der ersten Seenotrettung konnte die Sea-Watch 4 endlich im Hafen von Palermo in Italien anlegen. Tagelang mussten die 353 geretteten Männer, Frauen und Kinder auf dem Rettungsschiff darauf warten, in einem sicheren Hafen von Bord gehen zu können. 

Lange herrschte Unsicherheit darüber, wo die Geretteten, rund 100 von ihnen unbegleitete Minderjährige, an Land gehen könnten. Schon am Tag nach dem ersten Rettungseinsatz am 22. August suchte die Sea-Watch 4 bei den maltesischen und italienischen Behörden darum an, die geretteten Menschen an einen der nächstgelegenen sicheren Häfen bringen zu können – ohne Erfolg.

Es folgten zwei weitere Rettungseinsätze. Schließlich wurde die Sea-Watch 4 sogar von Behörden Maltas aufgefordert, dem einzig anderen Rettungsschiff im zentralen Mittelmeer zu Hilfe zu kommen, um dieses zu entlasten. 152 Menschen, die von der Louise Michel aus Seenot gerettet wurden, konnten von der Sea-Watch 4 übernommen werden. Malta reagierte danach auf keine Anrufe der Sea-Watch 4.

Erst am 1. September wies Italien der Sea-Watch 4 endlich den Hafen von Palermo für die Ausschiffung der Geretteten zu, am Tag darauf konnte der Rettungseinsatz beendet werden. 

Mehr zu unserem Einsatz im Mittelmeer

Hier ein paar Eindrücke von der Seenotrettung und dem Leben an Bord, wo unser Team für die medizinische Versorgung zuständig ist:

Rotation01_Rescue02
MSF/Hannah Wallace Bowman
At the dawn of August 23, 2020, seawatch MSF teams rescued 97 people from an overcrowded rubber boat. The men, women & children in distress were spotted in international waters, some 30 nautical miles from Libya.
Rotation 1; Rescue 2, 23.08.2020
Chris Grodotzki/Sea-Watch.org
At the first light on August 23, the Sea-Watch 4 morning look out spotted a small black vessel in international waters, some 31 nautical miles from the coast of Libya. The overcrowded and unseaworthy rubber boat carried 60 men and women, as well as 9 children and 28 unaccompanied minors. Securing these lives at risk at sea, rescue crew distributed life vests, before bringing everyone safely on board. All survivors were triaged by MSF medics and assisted by the Sea-Watch protection team upon embarkation. The operation was complete at 09:30am ship time and the Sea-Watch 4 resumed patrolling at the deadliest border in the world.
Sea Watch 4 - Rotation01 - Clinic
MSF/Hannah Wallace Bowman
On August 29 Sea Watch 4 has altered course toward MV Louise Michel, the ship had a number of rescued people over its capacity. Over 145 rescued person were transferred from MV Louise Michel to Sea Watch 4. There are more than 350 survivors on board SeaWatch4, including pregnant women and children. For those most recently embarked, medical assessment is ongoing, with the clinic full and MSF medics treating people for fuel burns, dehydration, hypothermia & traumatic injuries. More than 350 rescued people on board SeaWatch4 urgently need a place of safety. Some survivors were rescued over a week ago.
Sea Watch 4 - Rotation01 - Clinic
MSF/Hannah Wallace Bowman
On August 29 Sea Watch 4 has altered course toward MV Louise Michel, the ship had a number of rescued people over its capacity. Over 145 rescued person were transferred from MV Louise Michel to Sea Watch 4. There are more than 350 survivors on board SeaWatch4, including pregnant women and children. For those most recently embarked, medical assessment is ongoing, with the clinic full and MSF medics treating people for fuel burns, dehydration, hypothermia & traumatic injuries. More than 350 rescued people on board SeaWatch4 urgently need a place of safety. Some survivors were rescued over a week ago.
Sea Watch 4 - Rotation01 - Life On Deck
MSF/Hannah Wallace Bowman
SeaWatch4 already has 201 survivors on board, denied a place of safety until the date release of this photo. Yet as EU & maritime authorities again turn a deaf ear to the cries of people in distress at sea - & despite being over 8hrs away - the ship has altered course toward MVLouiseMichel.
Sea Watch 4 - Rotation01 - Souleman's Family
Chris Grodotzki / Sea-Watch.org
Souleman from Cameroon with his wife and child on the weather deck of the Sea-Watch 4; 27 August 2020 Mouliom Souleman, 23, from Cameroon. Souleman proactively requested pen and paper and asked the MSF / Sea-Watch crew to share his words after being rescued by the Sea-Watch 4, on 23 August 2020. He, his wife and toddler were found in distress at sea in an overcrowded and unseaworthy rubber boat, which in total carried 60 men and women, as well as 9 children and 28 unaccompanied minors, some 31 nautical miles from the coast of Libya.