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Seebrüecke, Sea Watch rescue 122 distressed migrants

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Seebrüecke International and Sea Watch International have rescued 122 distressed migrants.

Seebrüecke’s AitaMari ship rescued 69 people whole Sea Watch International’s Aurora rescued 53 people..

Seebrüecke in a statement said: “On Thursday, the rescue ship #AitaMari of @maydayterraneo was able to rescue 69 people from 2 wooden boats. The ship was assigned the port of Genoa, 900km away.”

It said this is the first time that “such a small ship has been assigned such a distant port – this is unacceptable! In addition, 2-metre-high waves are forecast, making the journey even more difficult and dangerous.”

The @seawatch_intl ship #Aurora , the statement said also rescued 53 people from distress at sea on Friday. “They are being cared for on board. The Aurora is now on its way to Pozzallo, which has been assigned as a port of disembarkation – although #Lampedusa would have been 3.5 times closer.

“The #SeaEye4 is currently on its way to the central Mediterranean to support the civilian fleet and to counter the European policy of letting people drown.”

The statement regretted that the absence of a governmental sea rescue mission and the lack of safe escape routes make the deployment of the civilian fleet irreplaceable.

“In the face of thousands of deaths in the Mediterranean, it makes us angry that the work of the civilian fleet is deliberately hindered or even prevented by the allocation of distant ports and blockades of ships.”

Concluding, the statement said: “We demand an end to the obstruction of civilian sea rescue and freedom of movement for all people!”

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DRC: IOM raises alarm over displacement of hundreds of thousands in Goma

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The Surge in violence has seen thousands already displaced by the insecurity in Goma fleeing the town. Photo: WFP 2025/ Moses Sawasawa

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), is deeply concerned about the hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced over the last few days in Goma, North Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  An upsurge in heavy fighting and violence in recent days has forced people– some already previously displaced – out of their homes. IOM is appealing to the international community to recognize the staggering scale of the crisis, and to support the humanitarian needs of those displaced.   

“Millions of people were already displaced by years of conflict in eastern DRC, and humanitarian needs were massive. With the current alarming upsurge in fighting, an already dire situation is rapidly becoming very much worse,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. “IOM joins the UN Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and full humanitarian access, so that we can rapidly scale up our response and ensure that life-saving aid reaches those in need.”   

On January 23, intense clashes broke out between the M23 armed group and government forces in Goma and nearby Sake, as well as in South Kivu towns such as Minova.  The fighting occurred near densely populated camps sheltering tens of thousands of internally displaced people, including women and children.    

Several displacement sites, including on the outskirts of Goma, where over 300,000 displaced persons have sought refuge, have been partially or completely emptied as families fled the fighting. Those displaced urgently need shelter, food, clean water, medical assistance, and protection services for women and children. Essential items like blankets, mats and cooking utensils are also in critical demand.   

IOM has been supporting displaced and host communities in Goma and the surrounding areas by providing emergency shelter, water; sanitation, and hygiene assistance, camp co-ordination and management services, and monitoring population movements through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix.    

However, the organization and other humanitarian partners are struggling to meet the urgent needs of displaced communities amidst the insecurity and the limited funding.  Escalating violence has forced IOM and other humanitarian organizations to suspend operations in the most affected areas, cutting off lifesaving aid to thousands.   

Without immediate humanitarian access and additional funding, response efforts will be paralyzed. By the end of 2024, only 51 per cent of the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan had been funded to respond to the protracted conflict. The current 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for DRC appeals for USD 2.5 billion with at least USD 50 million urgently needed as a result of this new wave of displacement, to scale up life-saving humanitarian assistance and prevent further suffering.   

Given the scale of the crisis, IOM calls for comprehensive response across humanitarian, development, and peace sectors through stronger partnerships and putting communities at the center.   

IOM’s top strategic objective is to save lives, protect people on the move and find solutions to internally displaced populations by providing urgent essential needs inside their homelands otherwise people will have no choice but to cross borders. In 2024, the organization provided life-saving support to almost 32 million people in 168 countries and expanded programs supporting internally displaced persons in over 20 countries around the world.   

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Louise Michel returns to sea, spots wooden boat with 38 people onboard

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Louise Michel, an organisation that aims to combine sea rescue with the principles of feminism, anti-racism and anti-fascism is back at sea.

The organisation shared information about its return to the sea on its X handle @MVLouiseMichel.

Writing under the heading ‘The Louise Michel is back at sea’ the organisation said: “Yesterday evening the Louise Michel departed from Sicily towards the Central Mediterranean. Our crew found a wooden boat with 20-30 people on it and stayed until #guardiadifinanza za took over and brought everyone safely to #Lampedusa.

On January 21, Louise Michel announced: “Yesterday, shortly before sunset, the #LouiseMichel spotted a wooden boat with 38 people onboard. Our crew was searching for a boat having overheard an alert by a Frontex aircraft. Whether this is the same boat or not we cannot say.”

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IOM, partners in Jordan, Gaza, dispatch first supplies from Amman into Gaza Strip

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in coordination with partners in Jordan and  Gaza, has dispatched its first convoy trucks carrying essential shelter material, and water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies from Amman into the Gaza Strip as the ceasefire enters its fifth day. These supplies are urgently needed to provide relief to families displaced by the 471-day conflict, many of whom are already returning to rubble and makeshift shelters in winter conditions.

These efforts are coordinated closely with the Logistics Cluster – a UN network -, international and local humanitarian organizations, and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization. Over four million additional emergency relief items are pre-positioned in Jordan and at Gaza’s entry points, ready for immediate dispatch.

“The ceasefire in Gaza must be a turning point in the humanitarian response and a start for a lasting peaceful resolution,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “The devastation is staggering, leaving families without shelter or basic necessities. Safe, unimpeded and sustained access is critical to delivering aid, protecting lives and offering renewed hope.”

IOM trucks carrying nearly 13,000 sleeping mats, 11,000 mattresses, 11,000 blankets, 10,000 pillows with pillowcases, 2,000 plastic sheets, and 1,200 hygiene kits have been part of multiple joint convoys through the Jordan corridor since the ceasefire began. These items will be handed over to UN partners inside Gaza providing relief to approximately 10,000 people.

The devastation in Gaza is immense. According to OCHA, an estimated 90 percent of homes have been damaged or destroyed, leaving countless families without adequate shelter. Over 10,000 bodies are believed to remain buried beneath the rubble, with debris clearance expected to take over two decades due to the scale of the destruction, and the persistent threat of unexploded ordnance. The urgent need for shelter aid is compounded by harsh winter temperatures as families struggle to survive in makeshift shelters.

IOM remains committed to collaborating with UN and humanitarian partners to address these needs and support displaced communities, particularly in areas that were previously inaccessible before the ceasefire. However, a collective coordinated effort is essential.

All parties must uphold the ceasefire, and Member States, especially those on the Security Council, must leverage their influence to create and sustain the conditions necessary for effective humanitarian response. Ensuring sustained and increased access for humanitarian aid and commercial goods is critical to meeting the overwhelming needs of the affected population.

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