Dear friends of Sea-Eye,

once again news reaches us that a boat with up to 400 refugees on board has sunk off the Greek coast. So far 78 people have been recovered dead and 104 rescued. For the remaining people we fear the worst.

According to media reports, the maritime emergency had already been found the day before by a Frontex aircraft. Nevertheless, the help for dozens of people came much too late. Once again it shows that Frontex is supposed to stop people seeking protection at the EU's external border and is not there to protect human lives.

These people, who fled from the civil war country Libya, drowned at a time when EU is massively strengthening its isolation and Italy is detaining three rescue ships, including our SEA-EYE 4. For years we have been demanding that the human right to life and the right to asylum be respected. For this, it is indispensable that safe escape routes are finally established.

Yours, Gorden Isler
- Chairman of Sea-Eye e. V.
www.sea-eye.org/en