Refugees

Bird: “the condition of The boats is catastrophic”

As a rescue coordinator and captain of the MS Aquarius Klaus Vogel has saved for three months in the Mediterranean sea, refugees from distress at sea. The DW, it gives insight into this highly dramatic work.

The MS Aquarius on the Mediterranean sea

DW: Mr bird, you were rescued with your Team from January to March of this year in the Mediterranean sea between Italy and Libya on the road and have 193 people. What experiences have you made during this time?

Klaus Vogel: on the outside, the rescue operation run very quiet and predictable. At some point you see a boat on the lake. There are huge inflatables with up to 120 people are on it. Then we put our own rescue boat, and drive a small Team and lifejackets there. The people in these boats have recognized by this time that you are in the highest danger to life. The encounter with these people in such moments is staggering. Then it’s just a matter to save them. This must be done in a controlled and co-ordinated. In the photos it looks mostly very quiet. But it is also important to reassure the people. You have to see that nobody panics and all the healing to come on Board. This is already a big challenge.

How is the physical condition of these people? How long were you in the sea?

The people we saved were less than a day on the road. In one case, they were only five hours on the road. However, they were weakened after this time, so that I don’t want to imagine how it would have gone if they had been 48 hours on the road. These boats are suitable for Maritime transport at all. They move constantly. You are also leaking. On the bottom of the boats panels have been placed, which are fastened with Bolts. These screws protrude up to tens of centimeters from the ground. In addition, the fuel from the canister runs out and mixes with salt water. The people sitting in this Lake, which attacks the skin. Overall, the condition of the boats disastrous. You keep the people afloat. And their condition is after a few hours of bad.

Klaus Vogel on the Aquarius

What the “Rescued” have to say about the smugglers, the ones that you have put in these boats?

It is not just the smugglers. But it comes to the situation of the people in Libya as a whole. The smugglers are only the last link in a chain. Overall, the people we’ve rescued have been treated, in Libya, in an indescribable way.

What are these people? Have you told the Rescued?

The refugees call these people “businessmen”. In fact, the people who abduct the refugees on the road. Then you bring in any stock or houses and blackmail them. Often, people are tortured and their families in this way forced to transfer money. The refugees themselves don’t come with a lot of money. You expect that you will have to work to earn money for the trip. Instead, the families will be extorted.

Have you reported the people, what are you running from?

Of course, we have not conducted systematic surveys. There are very different motives. This may be a forced military service, in which a young man is forced to the Front, and he can assume that he is one of the first shot. This can be a lack of prospects, poverty, Hunger. Overall, it’s like those people who have made 150 years ago, on the way to America and Australia. People who come there, from where, no possibilities to see more of.

How do you see the future opportunities of these people in Europe?

This depends on the origin and history of the Individual. You can’t say that any of the Rescued has a very good perspective. Individual can sure come in Europe, if you get the necessary support. For others it will be difficult. Nevertheless, there’s no question that we have to save these people, of course.

Mr bird, you were out for your rescue for several months on the road. What is your most important experience during this time?

The fact that the life circumstances of many people are to the South of the Sahara catastrophic. And Libya, these people need to cross, is like a large internment camp. Apart from the need to rescue, I also see it as an obligation to save the people in Libya. I have no idea how to proceed. But we must know that Libya for the refugees is really the hell.

They have extended their action to the rescue again eight months. What do you expect for this time?

We deal with many rescues. In the meantime, we work together as a single ship with many other ship’s crews, the rescue people, in a composite. Than a year ago, the Operation Mare Nostrum, the Italian Navy came to an end, there was a Phase during which there were no ships on the spot, would have been able to save. This has changed in the meantime. There are military ships, there are ships of the Italian coast guard. Thus, many ships are there now. This is also necessary because so many people come at the same time. You have to expect that ten, 20 boats need to be saved in a day at the same time.

Klaus Vogel, master and PhD historian, has rescued as rescue coordinator on the MS Aquarius from January to March between Italy and Libya 193 people in distress at sea. The rescue of SOS MEDITERRANEE is now extended for a further eight months.