Dear Friends of Sea-Eye,
A new all-weather lifeboat for the Mediterranean, a civilian sea rescue vessel for disaster relief on the European mainland and several successful lawsuits against Italy: We can look back on an exciting 2024. Many of our successes would not have been possible without your support - thank you very much!
❤️ 2024 was a year of humanity for us. We saved 860 people from drowning in the Mediterranean: thanks to your donations, we were able to carry out 5 missions and a total of 18 rescues!
🤝 2024 was a year of solidarity for us. After the floods in Valencia, we converted the SEA-EYE 4 into a relief centre to help the Spanish organisation L'Aurora with emergency aid. By mid-December alone, more than 450 volunteers had prepared 12,000 meals, distributed 800 kg of fruit and vegetables and delivered 13 vans full of donations to the affected areas. We are currently coordinating further relief efforts with our local partner organisation to help the community for a longer period of time! The region has always shown us solidarity and warmth over the years, and has supported our work with donations of clothing, for example when we were in the port of Burriana.
💪2024 was a year of success for us. We took legal action against unlawful detentions in Italy and won three times! An important victory: the Court of Vibo Valentia confirmed the duty to rescue at sea and made it clear that following the instructions of the so-called Libyan Coastguard is not compatible with international law.
🖤We mourn the people who drowned in the Mediterranean in 2024. During an operation in February, two of the people seeking protection could only be recovered dead from an overcrowded two-storey wooden boat. In total, more than 2,250 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean in 2024. Despite this, EU member states such as Italy are making our humanitarian work even more difficult: after a rescue in March, our ship was detained for 60 days - the longest administrative detention ever imposed on a sea rescue vessel under the so-called Piantedosi decree.
🛟We enter 2025 full of hope. In October, we sent the SEA-EYE 5 on its first mission to the Mediterranean in response to the escalating political situation. During the mission, we were able to save 175 lives. This was made possible in part by our Ship Sponsors!
Not a Ship Sponsor yet? Become one today and make sure we can send the SEA-EYE 5 on regular missions next year!
Yours,
Jutta Wieding - Director Sea-Eye e. V.