Sea-Watch criticizes Italy for detaining rescue ship

Italian authorities have impounded the Aurora, a sea rescue ship operated by humanitarian organization Sea-Watch, for the next 20 days. Sea-Watch criticized the Italian authorities for grounding the ship after a 37-hour standoff, claiming that it endangered the lives of both crew members and migrants on board. The Aurora had rescued 72 people in distress in the Central Mediterranean and was repeatedly denied permission to disembark in the nearest port of Lampedusa, Italy. Instead, the vessel was redirected to Trapani, which was four times farther away. After waiting for 40 hours, the Aurora was finally allowed to disembark in Lampedusa, where it was subsequently impounded.

Sea-Watch spokesperson Giulia Messmer described the harrowing 37-hour standoff, during which the ship ran low on drinking water and fuel and the health conditions of the passengers worsened. Despite the extreme heat and the risk of dehydration, even a medical evacuation was denied. Messmer accused Italy and the European Union of hindering civil rescue efforts at sea and playing a cruel political game. The Mediterranean Sea is considered the most dangerous sea crossing in the world, with over 2,200 drownings estimated this year alone. In January, Italy passed a controversial law penalizing rescue operations carried out by humanitarian organizations, which has been criticized for violating international sea rescue laws and increasing the risk of deaths in the Central Mediterranean.

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