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AQUARIUS FORCED TO END OPERATIONS

As refugees, migrants and asylum seekers continue to die in the Mediterranean Sea, international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and its partner SOS Méditerranée have been forced to terminate operations by the search and rescue vessel Aquarius.

Over the past two months, with people continuing to flee by sea along the world’s deadliest migration route, the Aquarius has remained in port, unable to carry out its humanitarian work. This is the result of a sustained campaign, spearheaded by the Italian government and backed by other European states, to delegitimise, slander and obstruct aid organisations providing assistance to vulnerable people. Coupled with the EU’s ill-conceived external policies on migration, this campaign has undermined international law and humanitarian principles. With no immediate solution to these attacks, MSF and SOS Méditerranée have no choice but to end operations by the Aquarius.

“This is a dark day,” says Nelke Manders, MSF’s general director. “Not only has Europe failed to provide search and rescue capacity, it has also actively sabotaged others’ attempts to save lives. The end of Aquarius means more deaths at sea, and more needless deaths that will go unwitnessed.”

Over the past 18 months, the attacks by EU states on humanitarian search and rescue operations have drawn on tactics used in some of the world’s most repressive states. Despite working in full compliance with authorities, the Aquarius was twice stripped of its registration earlier this year and now faces allegations of criminal activity – allegations which are patently absurd. Amidst these smear campaigns and manoeuvres to undermine international law, people rescued at sea have been denied access to safe ports, refused assistance from other ships and left stranded at sea for weeks at a time.

MSFSTO27467

Linked assets

WEBCLIP: Forced to End - Last weeks on the Aquarius (AR)

Web Clip: Aquarius Forced To End Operations (INT)

No Subtitles (international)

WEBCLIP: Forced to End - Last weeks on the Aquarius (INT Clean)

Social Media Clip (DE) - Rescue at Sea - Aoife Mi Murchu - SQUARE SHORT

Subt. German

WEBCLIP: Forced to End - Last weeks on the Aquarius (INT + Music)

Social Media Clip (INT) - Rescue at Sea - Aoife Mi Murchu

No Subtitles (international)

Social Media Clip (INT) - Disturbing Stories - Shaun Cornelius

WEBCLIP: Forced to End - Last weeks on the Aquarius (ENG)

Subt. English

Social Media Clip (ENG) - Restoring Dignity - Tim Harrison

Subt. English

Social Media Clip (INT) - Restoring Dignity - Tim Harrison

No Subtitles (international)

Social Media Clip (ENG) - Disturbing Stories - Shaun Cornelius

Social Media Clip (ENG) - Rescue at Sea - Aoife Mi Murchu

Subt. English

AQARIUS FORCED TO END OPERATIONS- ARABIC

Aquarius Forced To End Operations

Web Clip: Aquarius Forced To End Operations (SPA)

Subt. Spanish

Aquarius Forced To End Operations

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Title AQUARIUS FORCED TO END OPERATIONS

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSFSTO27467

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Date taken / Date Recorded 06/12/2018 12:00 AM

Sub type Standard Folder

Date taken / Date Recorded 06/12/2018 12:00 AM

Keywords

Rescue at sea