A cry for help. SOS Méditerranée asked for help from France, Spain and Greece for the first time on Thursday 3 November. The European NGO wants to find a safe haven to disembark 234 migrants rescued from its ship Ocean Viking before the weather worsens. The organization fears “strong winds, high waves and a drop in temperature by the end of the week,” adding that “onboard supplies are starting to run out.”
While the Italian and Maltese authorities ignore the fate of the survivors stranded at sea, @SOSMedFrance Requests addressed to the maritime authorities of France, Spain and Greece to seek their support in mediating with their counterparts. pic.twitter.com/5KcSsrOGAi
— SOS MEDITERRANEE France (@SOSMedFrance) November 3, 2022
Since its first rescue on October 22, SOS Méditerranée has, as usual and in accordance with the law of the sea, made inquiries to the authorities of the search area in Libya and Malta without receiving a reply, explained AFP director and co-founder Sophie Beau. On Twitter Thursday noon, Nicola Stalla, a coordinator of the NGO, spoke of an “absolute emergency” on board. “Each additional day of waiting could have fatal consequences,” she said.
The NGO then turned to Italy, but the recent rise to power of the far right in Rome and the anti-migrant statements of their leaders leave little hope of a green light. The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, has in fact mentioned a possible ban on entering territorial waters against three ships, including that of SOS Méditerranée. The organization had received no response Thursday.
So SOS Méditerranée turned to France, Spain and Greece. “We are not asking France to open a port for us, but to help us find a solution,” especially in Italy or Malta, explains Sophie Beau. These are the two states closest to the Viking Ocean, which is currently south of Sicily.
Since the beginning of the year, 1,765 migrants have disappeared in the Mediterranean, including 1,287 in the central Mediterranean, which according to the International Organization for Migration is the world’s most dangerous migration route.