Further funding

Mission of the RESQ PEOPLE

75.000 €

In September 2021, United4Rescue decided to support the newly founded Italian rescue organisation RESQ. In June 2020, the organisation bought the ship ALAN KURDI from the German association Sea-Eye and christened her RESQ PEOPLE. With this support, United4Rescue enables the presence of another European rescue ship in the central Mediterranean Sea and at the same time strengthens the European network of rescue organisations.

Public attention for the "Free El Hiblu 3" trial

12.000 €

In September 2021, United4Rescue decided to support the alliance "Free El Hiblu 3" to draw attention to the criminalisation of civilian sea rescue. In 2019, three rescued young people on the oil tanker El Hiblu had successfully campaigned for over 100 rescued people to be taken to Malta rather than Libya. Because they interpreted and negotiated, they are charged with "terrorism" and "piracy". They face long prison sentences. The alliance "Free El Hiblu 3" ensures that the case is not forgotten and that as many people as possible campaign for the release of the three defendants. The funding from United4Rescue enables a staff position to coordinate these activities and write an information brochure.

Talking to each other and preventing flight

10.000 €

In September 2021, United4Rescue decided to support the "Palermo-Dakar Convergences". At this conference, committed aid workers and activists met simultaneously in Palermo and Dakar in mid-September 2021 to plan together how solidarity and support for people on the move can be better organised. This involves political approaches in lobbying as well as practical help. With the support of United4Rescue, the travel costs of conference participants who otherwise could not afford to attend were covered.

Observation flights over the Mediterranean

51.000 €

In July 2021, United4Rescue decided to support the organisation Ciel Solidaire, which operates a reconnaissance aircraft. With observation flights over the central Mediterranean, it helps to spot boats in distress and report the emergencies to the authorities so that fewer people have to drown. The aircraft is also able to air-drop urgently needed medicines or other materials for civilian rescue ships. Illegal push-backs by coastguards and Libyan militias can also be well documented from the air. United4Rescue makes the conversion of the aircraft and the first mission possible.

A fast boat against human rights violations in the Aegean Sea

21.000 €

In July 2021 United4Rescue decided to support the Greek aid organisation Attika Human Support. It operates a small speedboat on the island of Lesbos. Because also in the Aegean Sea people flee across the sea in rubber dinghies. Again and again there are accidents with fatalities, and even more frequently there are push-backs by the Greek coast guard, which pushes the people seeking protection towards Turkey or even abandons them on the open sea, in violation of international law. With the speedboat, Attika Human Support can report the sea emergencies and document human rights violations by the Greek coast guard. In addition, the organisation provides newly arriving protection seekers with basic necessities - such as warm clothing and hygiene items. The funding from United4Rescue will cover the operating costs of the speedboat for half a year until the end of 2021. This means that human rights violations do not go unnoticed.

Conversion of the Ocean Viking

170.000 €

United4Rescue supported the rescue organisation SOS Meditérranée in the autumn of 2020 with €170.000 for modifications of their ship Ocean Viking. Previously, the Italian authorities had found alleged defects in the ship and demanded a costly technical retrofit. This was to prevent the ship, like so many others, from carrying out rescues. Thanks to the help of United4Rescue, the newly imposed requirements were quickly implemented. For example, large life rafts, additional survival suits and specially certified life jackets were purchased. The ship's certificates were also renewed. Thus, the Ocean Viking was able to set sail again after a comparatively short period of time. In January 2021, she was the only rescue ship in operation and saved 370 people.

Strategic Litigation KAUF DER SEBASTIAN K

5.000 €

In October 2020, United4Rescue supported the rescue organisation Mare Liberum e.V. in a lawsuit against a new regulation of the German Ministry of Transport, which is supposed to make it more difficult for civilian rescue ships to operate. United4Rescue supported the purchase of the 14-metre sailing yacht Sebastian K, which is used to monitor the situation in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. Because the Sebastian K was refused permission to sail, Mare Liberum filed a complaint with the Hamburg Administrative Court. Successfully! The court upheld the blockade of the ship as unlawful.

The amendment to the Ship Safety Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Transport of March 2020 should have been notified in advance to the European Commission. This had not been done, which meant that the amendment violated European law.

The project was also funded by the Foundation Fund for Sea Rescue and Sea-Watch.

Deployment of the "ALAN KURDI"

79.000 €

United4Rescue supported the rescue organisation Sea-Eye in April 2020 by covering mission costs of the ship ALAN KURDI in the amount of €79.000. Due to a long blockade and quarantine period of the ship, there were considerable unplanned additional costs. The subsequent mission was acutely endangered. Thanks to this support, Sea-Eye was able to prepare the next mission of the ALAN KURDI and quickly get back into action.