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Migrant search and rescue in the Mediterranean updated

Lifejackets
M-Production © adobestock.com, 2022
Since January, on average five people died per day crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. On World Refugee Day 2022, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights underlines the struggles civil society continues to face rescuing people in distress in the Mediterranean Sea.

Often smugglers and traffickers send migrants to sea in overcrowded or unseaworthy boats.

The latest FRA update shows overall rescue capacity remains constrained and inadequate and out of 21 NGO search and rescue boats and planes in the region, only ten are operational.

The update also points to two new legal cases since December 2021. This brings the total number of legal proceedings to 60 since 2016.

This latest update provides a snapshot of developments, including open and closed legal proceedings, from 2016 until 15 June 2022.

It also contains an overview for 2022 of vessels that were not immediately allowed to disembark rescued migrants and had to wait at sea for over one day.