By Laura McCartan | Digital Communications Officer
After five years of providing lifesaving search and rescue for people crossing the Aegean Sea to the North Shore of Lesvos, Refugee Rescue has made the difficult decision to suspend our operations.
The deteriorating situation on the North Shore has made it impossible for us to continue our efforts to assist those in distress at sea at this time. Unacceptably, the rising criminalization of humanitarian organizations in Lesvos and growing hostilities now pose an irrefutable threat to our staff, assets, and work – and we can not in good conscience continue to operate if we cannot guarantee the safety of our team. Additionally, the unchecked impunity with which authorities now work has created a situation where we no longer trust that they will allow us to launch our independent rescue boat, Mo Chara.
Make no mistake: our decision to suspend operations for the foreseeable future does not in any way mean that search and rescue is not still imminently needed off the North Shore of Lesvos. In fact, human rights violations on the Aegean have only intensified in the past few months – from authorities leaving people stranded at sea for hours, to illegal pushbacks on Greek waters – which have all made the journey from Turkey to Greece more perilous than ever for those seeking refuge. The record-low number of arrivals to the North Shore recently signals that people are being forcibly prevented from exercising their right to seek asylum, not that they no longer seek it. It deeply saddens us that we are unable to operate in this context, where independent search and rescue is desperately necessary to save lives and hold authorities accountable.
While we suspend our operations in Lesvos, we will use the coming months to assess our next steps – whether it is returning to Greece at a future time, or elsewhere where our skills and assets can be supportive. This is not goodbye – not yet – but a commitment to monitor the situation closely so that we can best support our staff, donors, local communities, and most importantly, the people we serve.
We take this time to thank everyone who has volunteered, worked, funded, and committed to Refugee Rescue since 2015. Together, and with your help, we have assisted over 15,529 people, ensuring that they made it safely to shore. Most recently, in 2019 and 2018 our crews assisted a total of 5,015 people and 1,809 people respectively in each year. We could not have achieved this impact without your time, energy, resources, and unwavering commitment to human rights and to our mission: preventing deaths at sea. We hope you will continue to use your voice to advocate for refugee rights worldwide – from the Aegean and beyond – so that we create a better world for all.
Our vessel may be docked at shore for now, but our collective power to demand justice will always stay afloat.
By Laura McCartan | Digital Communications Officer
By Laura McCartan | Digital Communications Officer
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