Saving Lives at Sea

Why do we do Search and Rescue?

We are responding to the crisis of people drowning in the Mediterranean Sea: in 2016, at least 12 people died every day trying to make the Central Mediterranean crossing. We initiated these activities in 2015 after the Italian Search and Rescue operation called “Mare Nostrum” was terminated. As a medical-humanitarian organisation, standing on the shore as thousands of men, women and children drowned was not an option for us. Until European governments provide safe and legal ways in which people can seek protection in Europe, thousands will continue to risk their lives because it is their only option.

What are we doing at sea?

For the third consecutive year, we are conducting Search and Rescue operations as well as providing medical care in the Central Mediterranean. We are currently working from two vessels at sea, Prudence and Aquarius, each with a medical team (consisting of doctors, nurses and midwifes), a logistics team and a team of cultural mediators who help to communicate with the people we rescue as well as identifying exceptionally vulnerable people among them.

Where do we do Search and Rescue?

The ships we operate from are located in international waters, around 12 to 25 nautical miles from the Libyan coast where the largest number of distress situations arise. As an exception, and when requested or authorised by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), we occasionally enter Libyan Territorial Waters (less than 12 nautical miles) when there is a vessel known to be in distress and with all the necessary authority permissions. In fact, under international maritime laws, it is an obligation that the master of a ship must enter territorial waters when needed to render assistance to people in distress.

Who do we help at sea?

Everyone. Whether they are children or adults, men or women, the people we help at sea are all vulnerable. We see people from all over the world taking this dangerous journey; from Bangladesh, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan, Morocco, Pakistan and many more. The one thing almost all of them have in common is the harsh conditions they have endured on the journey. After every rescue we hear countless first hand accounts of the alarming level of violence and exploitation experienced in Libya at the hands of security forces, militias, smuggling networks, criminal gangs and private individuals.

What are we treating? 

Our medical care

Straight after a rescue our medical staff perform an initial triage to identify people in need of immediate care, who are then treated in the emergency room on board. Once the patient is stabilized, if they are in need of a higher level of care, medical evacuation is possible in coordination with the MRCC via helicopter or speedboat. Non-emergency cases are seen in the outpatient consultation room or during deck consultations; here medics are mainly treating respiratory tract infections, skin diseases, general body pain and other minor complaints. The medics also regularly treat fuel burns, resulting from the prolonged exposure of the skin to a toxic mixture of fuel and salty water in overcrowded boats. Women, especially pregnant women, receive dedicated care thanks to the presence of a midwife onboard. MSF midwifes have assisted the delivery of several babies onboard.

What are we treating?

Our psychological care

Psychological first aid is provided by trained cultural mediators and follow-up with more dedicated mental health care can either be provided on the boat or ashore. During all these consultations our teams hear horrific stories; many of the people we rescue are victims of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Many of our patients, women and men, are victims of sexual violence.

How do we do Search and Rescue?

All our rescues in the Mediterranean are done in coordination with the Italian Coast Guard and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) based in Rome. In addition, all our rescues are in full compliance with international maritime law, and core humanitarian principles. With the use of binoculars, our crews search for the presence of boats in distress or are alerted by the MRCC of vessels in need of rescue. It is the Italian rescue coordination centre that defines when and where MSF intervenes to rescue a boat in distress and where rescued people are to be safely disembarked.

How do we finance our Search and Rescue operations?

In 2016, just over one percent of our spending was dedicated to Search and Rescue operations in the Mediterranean sea. All information about our finances is public, certified and available on MSF websites. Since June 2016, MSF no longer accepts government funding from the European Union and its Member States, in opposition to their damaging deterrence policies and continued attempts to push people and their suffering away from European shores. More info>>