Day 2

Four bottles of water for refugees in distress at sea

Escape across the Mediterranean Escape across the Mediterranean

Sea rescue of refugees in the Mediterranean

When people flee across the Mediterranean, they have often had a long, dangerous journey behind them - and are still a long way from their destination. Many of them have experienced terrible things in their home countries and on the way. For the refugees, the sea represents hope of being able to reach the European mainland, but also great danger. Many of them cannot swim; if the boat capsizes, they drown. If they are located by a rescue ship in time, they are overjoyed that they have reached Europe safely and can exercise their right to apply for asylum. The helpers on the Sea-Watch rescue boat are usually the first people in a long time to treat them with respect, and the joy at these deeply human encounters in extreme emergency situations is genuine on both sides.

need

Drinking water for refugees in distress in the Mediterranean.

activity

Sea-Watch buys drinking water bottles and distributes them to refugees on the refugee boats and on the rescue boat Sea-Watch 2.

Measurable performance

Number of drinking water bottles that could be distributed to refugees.

Result

Refugees who find themselves in distress at sea in the Mediterranean are provided with sufficient drinking water.

Systemically relevant impact

Rescuing refugees in distress in the Mediterranean.

background

There are many reasons why people around the world flee. Most people who arrive in Libya come from African countries seeking protection from poverty, oppression and violence, but also people from Syria who are fleeing the civil war there.

For example, many people are fleeing from Eritrea to escape torture and oppression under the authoritarian regime that rules there. The legal status of refugees (Section 3 Paragraph 1 Asylum Act, Article 16a Basic Law) for people from Eritrea in Germany was 75% in 2016. However, many people have no way of reaching Europe legally or applying for asylum in their home countries. They are therefore forced to risk their lives fleeing via Libya and the Mediterranean.

In Libya, too, many refugees are exposed to terrible conditions. They are often captured, tortured and sold like slaves. If they want the chance of a safe and dignified existence, they have to go to Europe. Since the Balkan route was closed, the only way for many is by boat across the Mediterranean.

The good deed

No one should lose their life because they want to exercise their right to asylum. The Sea-Watch organization rescues refugees who are in distress at sea in their unseaworthy fishing boats or rubber dinghies. They drift in the Mediterranean, unable to maneuver, have no food and often insufficient drinking water on board. Children in particular quickly become dehydrated and receive water from Sea-Watch helpers as soon as they arrive at the refugee boat after rescue operations. This good deed makes an important contribution to the initial care of the people.