Trying to get in touch with the Libyan rescue and coordination center is an even greater challenge. Maltese and Italian authorities did not respond to questions sent by AP. In a separate call to the Rescue and Coordination Center in Rome, another Sea-Watch member was told: “We have no information to report to you.” “I’m sorry, we don’t speak with NGOs,” a man answering the phone of the Maltese Rescue and Coordination Center told a member of Sea-Watch inquiring about a boat in distress this past June. Instead, they've outsourced rescues to the Libyan Coast Guard, which has a track record of reckless interceptions as well as ties to human traffickers and militias. The activists have grown used to having their distress calls go unanswered.įor years human rights groups and international law experts have denounced that European countries are increasingly ignoring their international obligations to rescue migrants at sea. “We can only hope the people will reach the shore at some moment or will get rescued by a European coast guard vessel,” Bretschneider told AP as they made their way back. Running low on fuel, the Seabird had to leave the scene. Unsurprisingly to them, they received no response. That was if their boat did not fall apart or capsize along the way.ĭespite the risks, many migrants and refugees say they’d rather die trying to cross to Europe than be returned to Libya where, upon disembarkation, they are placed in detention centers and often subjected to relentless abuse.īretschneider sent the rubber boat's coordinates to the air liaison officer sitting in Berlin, who then relayed the position (inside the Maltese Search and Rescue zone) to both Malta and Italy. The small boat's destination was the Italian island of Lampedusa, where tourists sitting in outdoor cafés sipped on Aperol Spritz, oblivious to what was unfolding some 60 nautical miles (111 km/68 miles) south of them on the Mediterranean Sea.īretschneider, a 30-year-old social worker, made some quick calculations and concluded the migrants must have departed Libya approximately 20 hours ago and still had some 15 hours ahead of them before they reached Lampedusa. “They want to continue on their journey.” “They say they only have 20 liters of fuel left,” the captain, who did not identify himself by name, told the Seabird. But after seeing the boat had a Libyan flag, the people refused its assistance, the captain reported back on the crackling radio. The captain of the Nour 2, agreed to change course and check up on the flimsy boat. Le fork.“Nour 2, Nour 2, this is aircraft Seabird, aircraft Seabird,” the aircraft’s tactical coordinator, Eike Bretschneider, communicated via radio with the only vessel nearby. The French Man Who Went To Malta Le fork. You son of a bitch!" i'm going back to Italia! Arrivederci! Coming soon. You son of you bitch!" I go to the check outĪnd the man in the desk says: "Peace on you!" I said: "Piss on you too
I tell him "I wanna shit!" He tells me: "Go to the toilet!" I say: "You don't understand!" "I wanna shit on a bed!" He says "You better not shit on my bed I Go back to my room in a Hotel! And there is no sheets on the bed. I wanna to fuck on the table!" She say "You better not fuck on the table The knife, but no fork! I tell her "I wanna the fuck!" She says me "Everybody wanna fuck!" I tell her: "You dont understand! Later, I go to eat at a bigga restaurant. I don't even know the ladyĪnd she calls me a son of a bitch. She says "You better no piss on the plate I tell the waitress: "I wanna 2 pisses of toast!" She brings me only one piss. In the morning i go down to eat a breakfast. One day I'm gonna to Malta to bigga hotel.
The Italian Man Who Went To Malta - (OFFICIAL ANIMATED VERSION)