Live
play
  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Coronavirus
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
  • More
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Climate
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts

In Pictures

Gallery

MV Aquarius rescues refugees on Mediterranean Sea

MV Aquarius braves cold and stormy weather to search for and rescue troubled refugee boats crossing the sea at night.

The rescue on December 22, 2016 starts at 6pm: 'RHIB  is delivering lifejackets to the dinghy in distress, before they transfer the first people to the safe deck of MV Aquarius. The rescue vessel is jointly operated by the search-and-rescue organisation SOS Mediterranee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The rescue on December 22, 2016 starts at 6pm: 'RHIB is delivering lifejackets to the dinghy in distress, before they transfer the first people to the safe deck of MV Aquarius. The rescue vessel is jointly operated by the search-and-rescue organisation SOS Mediterranee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
By 
Kevin McElvaney
29 Jan 2017
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

The waves become higher and the weather rougher. The winter months are tough on the many rescue missions launching from all around Europe to help save refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea at risk of drowning. It is perilous work where the rewards are counted in lives saved. Many of these rescue vessels are not fit for purpose in the harsh conditions of the sea. The organisations often interrupt their work for lack of operating funds – all of them rely on donations.

The 40-year-old MV Aquarius is one such rescue ship. But the former fishery protection vessel built in Bremen, Germany, is robust enough to face the torrid waves. It is jointly operated by SOS Mediterranee and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), and in the beginning of the winter months was the only civic rescue mission operating. In late December 2016, Proactiva Open Arms joined them with their new ship, the Golfo Azzurro. So far, these two are the only civic rescue vessels in the Search-and-Rescue Zone (SAR-Zone) off the Libyan coast.

With more than 5,000 deaths, 2016 had the worst annual death toll on the Mediterranean. An average of 14 people have died every day attempting to cross this Sea.

Crossing from Libya to Italy is the most dangerous route. The casualty rate is ten times higher on this route than from Turkey to Greece. The weather, the declining quality of the wooden boats and dinghies provided by the smugglers and their perilous tactics are among the main causes for these alarming numbers. 

Yet, despite the odds, people continue with attempts to cross the rough waters, and rescue missions continue with the endless struggle to save lives. 

READ MORE: Mediterranean migrant deaths in 2016 pass 5,000

The weather changes frequently in winter time and rain showers make it hard for the rescue team to evacuate the ship and harder for the refugees to wait for their disembarkment. Evacuated people get transferred to the MV Aquarius in a RHIB which is able to shuttle up to 22 people at once. Hypothermia is a huge risk. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The weather changes frequently in winter time and rain showers make it hard for the rescue team to evacuate the ship and harder for the refugees to wait for their disembarkment. Evacuated people get transferred to the MV Aquarius in a RHIB which is able to shuttle up to 22 people at once. Hypothermia is a huge risk. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
After the evacuation, people wash the burning mix of gasoline that had leaked into the dinghy and salt water from their skin. Three-metre waves rock the rescue ship, making it difficult to stand. A clinic run by MSF delivers first treatments right on the board. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
After the evacuation, people wash the burning mix of gasoline that had leaked into the dinghy and salt water from their skin. Three-metre waves rock the rescue ship, making it difficult to stand. A clinic run by MSF delivers first treatments right on the board. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Refugees cover themselves in blankets and new clothes provided by the rescue organisation SOS Mediterranee, on the deck of the rescue vessel. Women and children stay in a separate area of the ship. The capacity of the vessel is about 450 people, but it once transferred 722 passengers to Italy. The crew of 30 members works in three-week rotations. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Refugees cover themselves in blankets and new clothes provided by the rescue organisation SOS Mediterranee, on the deck of the rescue vessel. Women and children stay in a separate area of the ship. The capacity of the vessel is about 450 people, but it once transferred 722 passengers to Italy. The crew of 30 members works in three-week rotations. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Captain Alexander Moroz and Nicola Stalla, deputy rescue coordinator, plan the upcoming rescue at 2am. Smugglers often use the darkness to avoid detection by Libyan authorities and the rescue missions launch in the early hours of the morning. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Captain Alexander Moroz and Nicola Stalla, deputy rescue coordinator, plan the upcoming rescue at 2am. Smugglers often use the darkness to avoid detection by Libyan authorities and the rescue missions launch in the early hours of the morning. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
On December 28, 2016, the rescue vessel located two wooden boats at 2am. The first one in blue is carrying 607 people on two levels. Four people are already unconscious and people in the lower deck start knocking against the wooden body. Mediators attempt to calm the situation to guarantee a smooth rescue with zero casualties and to prevent people from jumping into the Mediterranean Sea. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
On December 28, 2016, the rescue vessel located two wooden boats at 2am. The first one in blue is carrying 607 people on two levels. Four people are already unconscious and people in the lower deck start knocking against the wooden body. Mediators attempt to calm the situation to guarantee a smooth rescue with zero casualties and to prevent people from jumping into the Mediterranean Sea. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
A Pakistani refugee takes care of a Syrian child whose mother is holding another baby in her arms. Nearby co-travellers reach out their hands to calm down the screaming baby during the transfer to the rescue ship. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
A Pakistani refugee takes care of a Syrian child whose mother is holding another baby in her arms. Nearby co-travellers reach out their hands to calm down the screaming baby during the transfer to the rescue ship. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
An African refugee raises his arms, holding a flash-light in his right hand, so the rescuers can find the boat in the dark. He prays and loudly comforts the people on the boat. No one jumps into the water and the evacuation proceeds smoothly. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
An African refugee raises his arms, holding a flash-light in his right hand, so the rescuers can find the boat in the dark. He prays and loudly comforts the people on the boat. No one jumps into the water and the evacuation proceeds smoothly. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The British Navy takes charge of some of the passengers from this particular rescue operation. The rescued passengers are transferred over to British Navy ships, which will transport the refugees to Sicily on the Italian coast. Recovering from a long night’s work, the civic rescue ship observes the proceedings through binoculars and stands by to intervene in case something goes wrong with the transfer. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The British Navy takes charge of some of the passengers from this particular rescue operation. The rescued passengers are transferred over to British Navy ships, which will transport the refugees to Sicily on the Italian coast. Recovering from a long night’s work, the civic rescue ship observes the proceedings through binoculars and stands by to intervene in case something goes wrong with the transfer. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
At 5:30am the wooden boat is set on fire and destroyed by the British Navy, which has taken the rescued passengers on board. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
At 5:30am the wooden boat is set on fire and destroyed by the British Navy, which has taken the rescued passengers on board. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Eritrean refugees gather on the upper deck and continue watching the ongoing operation. The joint rescue operation by SOS Mediterranee and the British Navy saved more than 900 people with zero casualties from three wooden boats. The MV Aquarius is providing the refugees with new clothes, blankets, water and food. The rescue operation costs about $12,000 per day and is only possible thanks to donations from around the world. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Eritrean refugees gather on the upper deck and continue watching the ongoing operation. The joint rescue operation by SOS Mediterranee and the British Navy saved more than 900 people with zero casualties from three wooden boats. The MV Aquarius is providing the refugees with new clothes, blankets, water and food. The rescue operation costs about $12,000 per day and is only possible thanks to donations from around the world. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
A Syrian father and his son smile on their arrival in Porto Empedocle in Sicily on December 30, 2016. After the rescued disembark, the Aquarius heads back to the Search-and-Rescue Zone off the coast of Libya which will take 30 hours. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
A Syrian father and his son smile on their arrival in Porto Empedocle in Sicily on December 30, 2016. After the rescued disembark, the Aquarius heads back to the Search-and-Rescue Zone off the coast of Libya which will take 30 hours. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Another dinghy in distress is located on January 3, 2017. During daytime, it is often difficult to locate white-coloured boats like these in the waves. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
Another dinghy in distress is located on January 3, 2017. During daytime, it is often difficult to locate white-coloured boats like these in the waves. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The white dinghy overturned just minutes after the rescue team arrived. The civic rescue organisation handed out lifejackets to the people in distress before the evacuation to make sure that if anyone falling off the boat or jumping does not drown in the Mediterranean Sea. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The white dinghy overturned just minutes after the rescue team arrived. The civic rescue organisation handed out lifejackets to the people in distress before the evacuation to make sure that if anyone falling off the boat or jumping does not drown in the Mediterranean Sea. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The 381 rescued refugees thank the crew of the Aquarius, after safely arriving at the port of Augusta, Sicily on January 4, 2016. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]
The 381 rescued refugees thank the crew of the Aquarius, after safely arriving at the port of Augusta, Sicily on January 4, 2016. [Kevin McElvaney/Al Jazeera]

Related

Inside a warehouse where hundreds  of refugees are staying, the air is saturated with smoke from  fires built to keep warm, but breathing is difficult. [Federico Scoppa/CAPTA/Al Jazeera]

Dark and smoky shelters for refugees stranded in Serbia

Fearful of deportations at official camps, refugees in Serbia find cover in make-shift shelters.

camera
Sea Watch crew members patrol the rescue zone 24 miles off the Libyan coast [Amnon Gutman/Al Jazeera]

Desperate journeys: Lending a helping ship

A private initiative patrols the Mediterranean waters every day, rescuing stranded refugees.

camera
More from Gallery

In Pictures: Deaths and desperation in Delhi as COVID cases rise

Relatives and health workers bury the body of a man who died of COVID-19 in New Delhi [Bhat Burhan/Al Jazeera]

In Pictures: Korean Americans fearful amid anti-Asian attacks

Hyung Oh Kim, an 85-year-old immigrant from South Korea, and wife, Ki Sook, 77, in their apartment in the Koreatown neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Amid the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes, Kim, who came to the States in 1989 with his wife and children, asks himself whether he made the right decision these days. "I never had this type of fear before," said Kim. [Jae C Hong/AP Photo]

In Pictures: Cape Town blaze damages nearly 200-year-old library

A bushfire on the slopes of the world heritage site Table Mountain National Park raged out of control in strong winds and caused extensive damage to the University of Cape Town and many buildings around the nearly 200-year-old University. [Nic Bothma/EPA]

In Pictures: Prince Philip laid to rest at Windsor Castle

Family members follow the coffin during a procession arriving at St George's Chapel for the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle. [Eddie Mulholland/Pool via AP]
Most Read

‘Unprovoked escalation’: US slams Russian plan to block Black Sea

The United States expressed its "deep concern" over Russia's plans to block foreign naval ships [File: Yekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik/ Government Pool Photo via AP]

Derek Chauvin found guilty of murdering George Floyd

People hold placards after the verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, in front of Hennepin County Government Center, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 20, 2021 [Carlos Barria/Reuters]

South Korea muscles in on global arms trade

South Korea's first prototype of the KF-21 Boramae was unveiled at the Korea Aerospace Industries Co. facility on April 9 [Yonhap via EPA]

‘Axis of the excluded’: Erdogan and Putin’s complex relationship

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan eat ice cream during the MAKS 2019 International Aviation and Space Salon opening ceremony in Zhukovsky outside Moscow [File: Handout/Turkish Presidency Press Office/AFP]
  • About
    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
  • Our Channels
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
  • Our Network
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners
Follow Al Jazeera English:rssinstagramyoutubetwitterfacebook
logo
© 2021 Al Jazeera Media Network