For several days, the NGO Sea-Watch has been searching for a boat loaded with migrants in the Mediterranean. Spotted by its surveillance plane, this boat, which was carrying an unknown number of passengers, remains untraceable. An unfortunately recurring situation in this region where many “ghost boats” disappear, leaving behind anguished families and unanswered questions.
The photo taken from the Sea Bird surveillance plane shows a canoe lost in the waves, lost in the immensity of the sea. Since the publication of this image, concern has grown over the fate of the people on board this boat. “No one knows where they are,” says the NGO Sea-Watch. Italian authorities and Frontex, the European border surveillance agency, also participated in the search without success.
This disappearance is far from being an isolated case. “Ghost boats” are boats with which NGOs lose contact once spotted. Some of them wait for days for the intervention of the Italian or Maltese authorities, remaining at the mercy of bad weather on the open sea. In addition, some of these boats disappear without a trace, adding to the tragic figures of “invisible shipwrecks” .
Since the entry into force of the Piantedosi decree in Italy, which obliges NGO ships to return without delay to the port of disembarkation assigned by the Italian authorities after a rescue, the phenomenon of “ghost ships” has increased. These measures have the effect of leaving the area deserted, with European states renouncing their responsibilities in terms of rescue at sea. This is causing great frustration among humanitarian organizations and raising fears of an increase in invisible shipwrecks.
The castaways of the “ghost boats” remain invisible to the eyes of institutions, not appearing in the official victim reports. This situation raises questions about the real number of casualties in the Mediterranean Sea and the need to improve search and rescue mechanisms.
Faced with these recurring tragedies, it is important to raise public awareness of the humanitarian issues and the risks faced by migrants in search of a better life. The search for a lasting solution to avoid these tragedies must remain at the center of the concerns of governments and international organizations. The rights and safety of migrants must be protected, in order to end this human tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea.