Save mothers and children in the Mediterranean Sea

While entering the fourth year of continous presence of our medical teams in Mediterranean, Fondazione Rava, in collaboration with the Italian Navy, is now about to implement a new form of emergency support to the people rescued from the sea and suffering, for example, of Post Traumatick Shock Disease (PTSD) due to loss of dear ones during the journey, and who were victims of repeated death threatens and not occasional  physical and psycological violence.

The psycological work with migrants is dictated by the emergency, and the speed with which events are resolved (hardly ever migrants remain on board for more than 48 hours). For these reasons, the work of the psychologist focuses especially on a first psychological support, based  on observation, reporting and, where necessary on listening, primarily through reassurance and communication. Critical observation is especially aimed at children traveling alone, women victims of sexual violence, suspected cases of PTSD, and  evident signs of desperation. In this regard, our psycologist in equipe with specialists of the Italian Navy, will  thus create a standardized method of observation and targeted intervention.

Our medical teams will count on this extra psycological help to assure that every single person needing help will be assisted in the best possible way. The medical team and the crew will be asked to take part in meetings prior and following the SAR (save and rescue events) in order to be able to fully understand and deal with the most critical situations encountered during the activity.

We are determined to keep the highest level of attention and the quality of our work in this long term emergency. The movie Fuocoammare, by Italian director Gianfranco Rosi, winner of the Golden Bear in Berlin, recently won a nomination to the Oscars as best documentary. In the movie, representing the drama of the migrants crossing the ocean, the most unforgettable images are those of a wooden boat hiding tens of youngsters suffocated in the hold and the efforts of the crew of Cigala Fulgosi ship and Fondazione Rava's doctor to save them.