Search and rescue mission central mediterranen sea | June 2022

 

As important and positive as the solidarity and assistance towards the war refugees from Ukraine was, it soon became clear that these refugees were welcomed with open arms, while other groups continued to be abandoned to their fate between the Polish and Belarusian borders. Crushed in political power struggles. It also quickly became clear that there were racist tendencies in the treatment of people of color. They were sometimes rejected at the border and denied important humanitarian, bureaucratic or financial assistance. 

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This raised for me the question of what is happening at the southern borders of Europe, on the deadliest route, through the central Mediterranean. 

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In June 2022, I accompanied a three-week search and rescue mission of the German NGO Resqship as a seventh crew member on the 19-meter motor sailer NADIR.​