Petroleum Africa
Find us on: 
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
The international humanitarian medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF), in a statement called out Italian and other European governments and condemned all actions which prevent lifesaving rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean and which return people to Libya.
“The recent incident where Italian authorities ordered the seizure of Proactiva’s ship, Open Arms, following the rescue and disembarkation of 216 persons is the latest in a long series of actions, obstructing NGOs that are carrying out lifesaving rescue operations,” declared Annemarie Loof, MSF’s operational manager.
“We understand that Open Arms rescued people in international waters; in one of the rescues at 73 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, the Libyan Coastguard threatened the rescue team with violence,” continued Loof. “There’s a disturbing level of cooperation between European governments and the Libyan Coastguard, ranging from training and material support to paving the way for Libyan Coastguards in international waters, aimed at returning people to Libya.”
Even as NGOs are obstructed from saving lives at sea or people have no safe route or legal alternative to flee from horrific levels of violence, abuse and exploitation, European governments are enforcing policies of deterrence and containment in Libya.
“Under no circumstance should refugees and migrants be returned to Libya or trapped there. Clearly European governments are not prioritizing the safety of these people; rather they are playing a dirty game of politics while people’s lives hang in the balance,” concluded Loof.
" alt="Sintana to Expand Asset Base in Namibia with Acquisition">
" alt="Luanda Gives Afentra Nod for Azule Acquisition">
" alt="TotalEnergies Increases Stake in ROC’s Giant Moho Field and Sells Mature Assets">
" alt="Africa’s $824 Billion Debt Burden and Opaque Resource-Backed Loans Hinder its Potential">
" alt="African Refiners Ponder Threats to Energy Security for Africa as Transition Takes Center Stage">
" alt="Invictus Inks Gas Sales MOU to Deliver Power to Eureka Gold Mine">
" alt="Globeleq Acquires the 25 MWp Winnergy Solar PV Plant in Egypt">
" alt="Sintana Completes Well Testing at Mopane 1-X in Namibia">
