MSF Report Slams European Policies Harming Mediterranean Rescue Operations
MSF's new report highlights how European policies hinder rescue efforts in the Central Mediterranean.
Key Points
- • MSF report criticizes Italy's restrictive policies obstructing rescue operations.
- • The Geo Barents faced significant operational challenges due to the Piantedosi decree.
- • Rescues dropped from 4,646 in 2023 to 2,278 in 2024, leading to the cessation of operations.
- • Survivors report severe violence and abuse, particularly in Libya.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released a critical report detailing how European policies, particularly those enacted by Italy, obstruct humanitarian rescue efforts in the Central Mediterranean. The report, titled "Deadly Manoeuvres: Obstruction and Violence in the Central Mediterranean," reveals the dramatic decline in rescue capabilities due to restrictive regulations, specifically citing Italy's Piantedosi decree from 2023 which imposed severe operational limitations on NGO vessels.
According to the report, which draws on data and survivor testimonies from the Geo Barents between 2023 and 2024, the vessel had to travel an additional 64,966 kilometers and spend 163 extra days at sea to comply with the decree forcing rescues to designated ports far from rescue operations. These restrictions severely compromised the ship's ability to save lives, as articulated by MSF representative Juan Matias Gil, who described the decree as a "structured mechanism to obstruct civilian search and rescue activities."
The report starkly highlights the impact of these policies: in 2023, the Geo Barents rescued 4,646 individuals, but that number plummeted to only 2,278 in 2024, ultimately leading MSF to cease operations in December 2024. The Mediterranean remains perilous for migrants, with 24,467 deaths recorded from 2014 to 2024, including 1,692 in the year 2024 alone.
Moreover, the survivors’ testimonies indicate widespread violence and abuse during their journeys, particularly in Libya, where many encountered severe mistreatment and exploitation. MSF's medical team noted a troubling 14% increase in emergencies among rescued individuals, many of whom required critical care, reflecting the dire conditions faced by migrants. The report insists on an urgent end to Italy's obstructive policies and calls for the EU to stop supporting the Libyan coastguards, aimed at restoring humane treatment and effective rescue operations in the region.
As a final appeal, MSF urges Italian authorities to halt these harmful directives, emphasizing the necessity of protecting lives at sea.