Life Support | 170 Rescued People Disembark in Ravenna

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170 people rescued by EMERGENCY's search and rescue vessel Life Supportdisembarked in Ravenna, Italy today. The disembarkation process ended at 2 p.m.

"After more than four days at sea, we arrived in Ravenna for the disembarkation of the rescued people, an operation that took place smoothly and in cooperation with the local authorities," says Laura Pinasco, commander of EMERGENCY's Life Support. "We wish these people who were finally able to go ashore today all the best, while we prepare for the next missions.

The 170 people, including 2 women and 11 minors, come from Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Nigeria, Syria, Palestine, Pakistan and South Sudan - countries affected by conflict, political and economic instability, and food insecurity.

"This long voyage to the assigned Place of Safety has severely tested the people we rescued, both in terms of their physical and mental health," explains Miriam Bouteraa, cultural mediator on board Life Support. "One young Syrian told us that she had tried in vain to reach Europe by safe and 'legal' routes: she had applied for a visa for several European states, but was always denied. For several years, she worked as a pulmonologist in Syria and Lebanon, but with deteriorating political and economic conditions in both countries, this was no longer possible. No longer having any prospects, she decided to cross the Mediterranean via Libya. She would not recommend anyone to stay there, because Libya is not a safe country and is a place where human rights are not respected. Now that she has arrived in Europe, she dreams of doing her job in Germany."

In all, 260 people were rescued in less than 24 hours during this mission. During the voyage, in agreement with the authorities, an urgent medical evacuation for two patients in serious condition and the transhipment of a further 88 people off Lampedusa were carried out. At the time of the rescue operations, the shipwrecked people were in small boats, unsuitable for the Mediterranean crossing and without safety equipment.

"I come from Aleppo, in northern Syria, which was a region particularly affected by ISIS attacks in 2014, that same year with my family we took refuge in Lebanon," says one person on board. After nine years in Lebanon, I decided to leave for Europe with my younger brother. In Libya we spent a terrible year: the first time we tried to cross the Mediterranean, the Libyan militias stopped us after a few hours of navigation, took us back and locked us in prison where they tortured us to extort money. It took our father several months to collect the $2,000 each needed to free us and since the guards also organised the departures to Europe, by adding more money he managed to guarantee us a second attempt to cross. But on the condition that my brother and I were on two different boats, to increase the chances of at least one of us reaching Europe. I made it, now I hope I can join my older brother in Holland, but most of all I hope my younger brother will also make it to Europe."

An Egyptian man on board recounts his testimony: "I am from Cairo, Egypt, I left my country more than six months ago to try to reach my grandfather who works in Italy. I have two children aged five and three, who live with my wife and family. In recent years, the value of the Egyptian pound has dropped a lot and now it is difficult even to buy food, after years of difficulty I realised I had to leave. From Egypt, my cousin and I went to Libya about six months ago and waited to receive money from our families before we could attempt the journey to cross the Mediterranean. A week ago we reached the necessary amount and managed to leave. Libya is a very dangerous country, violence is used as a means to resolve any dispute, it is normal to hear gunfire in the streets and if you don't do what people there tell you, you risk being killed for petty things. Fortunately we are safe now, I hope to be able to join my grandfather and get my family there safely once I have residence and a job."

With today's landing in Ravenna, Life Support, which has conducting search and rescue operations since December 2022, concludes its 24th mission. According to the IOM, the central Mediterranean is one of the world's deadliest migration routes, where 434 people have died and 611 are missing between the beginning of the year and 24 August alone. It is precisely on this route that EMERGENCY's ship has so far rescued a total of 2,222 people and will continue its efforts to save more lives.

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