In March 2020, cruise companies worldwide began to cease operations and by April, a majority of them were disembarking all of their guests. Only crew members were left onboard, and the operation to repatriate them triggered an ongoing catastrophe of seafarers' rights and human welfare. For months, crew members were left onboard awaiting flights. Their salaries were frozen, their family members waited at home without any income, they lost houses, they lost children, parents, and marriages while at sea. Several crew members have lost their own lives.

Today, there are 140 Samoan crew members who have now been onboard serving their contracts for over a year, well past the MLC's requirements of a maximum 11 months at sea. With tears of relief and joy, the crew onboard MSC vessels got ready to board their repatriation flight on November 26th. Right before they were due to depart back home, the flight was canceled. MSC reported that they complied with all health requirements, PCR tests, and medical tests, but that the Samoa Cabinet denied the flight. Their reason was said to be because of a previously disembarked crew member, who tested negative before departing the cruise ship, and then tested positive upon return home.

These crew members have reached a point of utter devastation and despair. Some of them have recently lost family members at home and are suffering from severe depression and anxiety. There is a critical need to repatriate these citizens back to their country, and we are calling on the Government of Samoa, and the United Nations to involve themselves in this humanitarian crisis and bring them home for Christmas. We need your help spreading the word.