Shock Mitigation Directory

MOAS - Mediterranean Search & Rescue Foundation

MOAS is a NGO (Non Government Organisation) Funded By Donations

MOAS have no political affiliation or agenda other than the professional saving of lives at sea. The mantra is “no one deserves to die at sea”.

Contributions show that many private individuals and organisations want to be part of the solution to the humanitarian crisis in the Med. Depending on the level of public donations MOAS plans to spend six months at sea - from May to October 2015.

The Need for Search & Rescue Operations in the Mediterranean

According to reports, in February 2015 three rubber dinghies crammed beyond capacity by smugglers with hundreds of migrants left Libya. The first responder was a small tug boat which waited some two hours for naval help from Operation Triton, by which time many were already dead or dying. After around 100 people were rescued, at least 29 died from hypothermia on their way to Lampedusa island.

Brigadier Xuereb said, ‘The weather was cold, the sea was rough, there was wind chill and it had rained. It is also very likely that these people had been out at sea already for a considerable amount of time. Hypothermia will have kicked in very fast under these conditions when people were exposed without any cover.'

MOAS - Dedicated to Preventing Loss of Life at Sea

The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) is a registered Foundation (VO/0939) based in Malta. It is dedicated to preventing loss of life at sea by providing assistance, coordination and support to maritime rescue operations. During just 60 days in 2014 MOAS provided life-saving rescue and medical assistance to 3000 people at sea.

MOAS consists of international humanitarians, security professionals, medical staff, and experienced maritime officers who have come together to help prevent further catastrophes at sea. They are passionate about the plight of those seeking a better life, despite the dangers they face at sea.

MOAS - The Mission

MOAS acts as an aid station to support vessels in need of assistance, coordinating its efforts with other search and rescue authorities around the Mediterranean.

The ultimate aim is to mitigate loss of life at sea. It will not act as a migrant ferry and it will not rescue migrants exclusively, but it will use all its resources to assist appropriate official Rescue Coordination Centres to locate and help reduce the suffering of human beings and save lives where possible.

MOAS - Law & Politics

MOAS operates in full compliance with relevant EU law, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and relevant international law.

Brigadier Xuereb added, ‘I think it’s very important to remove the politics out of search-and-rescue and try and see the issue of the perspective of those people who feel compelled to do the crossing. Last year we saved family units and pensioners who would never have left their homes unless they really had to. People leave because the push factors are so great.’

Statement from UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees

The Mediterranean is one of the busiest seaways in the world, as well as a dangerous sea frontier for migrants and asylum seekers en route to Europe.

In view of the perils UNHCR again calls on all vessels at sea to be on alert for migrants and refugees in need of rescue.

We also renew our call to all shipmasters in the Mediterranean to remain vigilant and to carry out their duty of rescuing vessels in distress.

Statistics from UNHCR

At least 218,000 people, including migrants and refugees, crossed the Mediterranean by irregular routes in 2014 and this trend is expected to continue in 2015.

About 3,500 boat people lost their lives trying to cross to Europe in 2014.

That is approximately one in every 60 people

Could Europe Stop Migrants Dying in the Mediterannean?

Neil Razzell of the BBC gives an excellent insight into key issues:

3000 people are estimated to have died in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014

What could European countries do to stop these deaths?

Are people smugglers the most ruthless travel agents on the planet?

Why the Italian Navy rescue mission has been dramatically down-sized?

Addressing claims that saving migrants at sea creates a 'pull factor'

Listen to BBC Podcast 'The Enquiry' - Presented by Neal Razzell >

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