2023 devastating for migrants in Central Mediterranean- Louise Michel

The year 2023 has been yet another devastating year for people on the move in the central Mediterranean, Louise Michel, an organization that combines sea rescue with the principles of feminism anti-racism and anti-facism has said.

It said: “With 5 crews and 18 rescue operations, the #LouiseMichel assisted 923 people this year. In March she was detained for 20 days for the rescue of 180 people.

“But we were not the only ones. While 13 times #searescue ships have been detained this year, over 2100 people lost their lives, and this is just the confirmed number. We must assume that many more lives were lost and just went missing.

“From what we know, 53,088 people were intercepted and returned to #Libya or #Tunisia where they faced torture, detainment, slavery and worse.”

The new Italian decree law implemented at the beginning of the year, according to the organisation has blocked several ships from sailing.

Additionally, it said “Italy instructed near-empty civil rescue ships to return to distant ports even though they had space for many more people following their first rescue, taking them out of action for days whilst there are still many boats in distress.

“These numbers are not only digits in a static. Every number is a person with hopes, dreams, a past and people they loved. Every dead or intercepted person is one too many. All this is the direct result of policies that the #EU has created to prevent people from seeking safety.

“These deaths were preventable. Every death is another person for #Europe to be held accountable for.

“Europe has to take responsibility for the unconditional human rights for everyone on land and at sea. Safe and legal passage has to be made for all people regardless of race, religion, gender orientation and sexuality. Equal rights for all. #Safepassage for all.”