Saving Lives at Sea

Why do we do Search and Rescue?

We conduct search and rescue operations because people are drowning in the Mediterranean Sea. We first launched these activities in 2015 after the Italian Search and Rescue operation called “Mare Nostrum” was terminated. Since then, European governments have dismantled search and rescue operations, criminalised humanitarian efforts to save lives at sea and adopted migration policies aimed at containing vulnerable people in Libya at all costs. However, this has not stopped people from fleeing across the central Mediterranean, it has only made the journey more dangerous. As a humanitarian organisation, we believe our presence is needed to save lives, as well as to witness and speak out about the human cost of the policies and politics at play in the Mediterranean Sea. Until European governments provide safe and legal ways for people to seek protection in Europe, thousands will continue to risk their lives in order to flee Libya.

Where do we do Search and Rescue?

The ship we operate from carries out rescues in international waters, usually around 24 to 40 nautical miles from the Libyan coast where the largest number of distress situations arise. The Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) is currently the recognised maritime rescue coordination centre. On exception, when requested or authorised, we occasionally entered Libyan Territorial Waters if there was a vessel known to be in distress. Under international maritime laws, it is an obligation that the master of a ship must enter territorial waters when needed to provide assistance to people in distress. SEE ON MAP >>

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, arbitrary detention and exploitation experienced in Libya at the hands of militias, smuggling networks, criminal gangs and private individuals. Many of the people we rescue present international protection needs and extra vulnerabilities such as unaccompanied minors, single women, pregnant women, people with disabilities, severe medical cases and victims of torture, sexual violence, human trafficking and/or a shipwreck.

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. Our doctors regularly treat fuel burns, resulting from the prolonged exposure of the skin to a toxic mixture of fuel and salty water in overcrowded boats. Medics are also treating respiratory tract infections, skin diseases, general body pain and other minor complaints. 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. For the most severe medical cases, medical evacuation is possible in coordination with the relevant maritime authorities via helicopter or speedboat.   

What are we treating?

Our psychological care

Psychological first aid is provided by MSF medical staff and trained cultural mediators on board. During 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, both women and men, are victims of sexual violence. They have had to leave everything behind and many of them have watched their families, friends and people they travelled with die at sea or in the desert.

How do we do Search and Rescue?

Our rescues are in full compliance with international maritime law, and core humanitarian principles. Our crews search for boats in distress or are alerted by relevant authorities if there are vessels in need of rescue. All our rescues in the Mediterranean are done under the coordination of the recognised maritime rescue coordination centre, which is currently the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC). International law clearly states that a rescue at sea is not complete until all those on board are disembarked in the closest safe port. The Libyan JRCC, however, have repeatedly demonstrated that they do not have the capacity to fully coordinate a rescue as they cannot provide rescue vessels with a place of safety for disembarkation. For this reason, rescue boats often contact the maritime authorities of the nearest safe ports, specifically Italy and Malta. Nonetheless, political disputes over ports of disembarkation have become a regular occurrence, leaving ships and rescued people stranded at sea for weeks at a time.

How do we finance our Search and Rescue operations?

MSF is an independent medical humanitarian organisation and our funding relies largely on individuals donating small amounts. This helps to ensure our operational independence and flexibility to respond at a moment's notice to the most urgent crises, providing medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Since June 2016, MSF has not accepted funds from the European Union and Member States in opposition to their damaging deterrence policies on immigration. The cost to operate our SAR activities this year represents around 0.14% of the money spent on MSF projects in 70+ countries around the world in 2018. More info>>