VIDEO: MOAS Saves 331 in Year’s Last Mission

Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) has helped save almost 3,000 lives in the Mediterranean Sea during its 60-day mission which comes to an end today, October 31.

Just this week, under the direction of Italy’s Rescue Coordination Centre, the MOAS crew rescued 331 people from two boats in distress. The first was a wooden boat whilst the second was a dinghy.

The operations will now be closed for the winter, and the break will be used to launch a campaign to raise funds with the hope to start saving lives again next year.

MOAS, which set sail on August 25, has carried out three 20-day missions at sea. During these 60 days, 1,451 migrants were rescued and sheltered on board MY Phoenix where they were given life-jackets, food, water, blankets and medical assistance.

MOAS also assisted the Italian authorities on a number of large rescues by helping to transfer around 1,400 other migrants onto Italian and Merchant Navy boats. All the migrants assisted by MOAS have been disembarked safely in Italy under the direction of Rome’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

Christopher Catrambone  and his wife Regina have funded the entire operation this year. However, they are not able to continue funding the project on their own.

“We want to inspire others to be part of this project. We have already received some donations, but this is a mission that costs at least EUR 400,000 per month to operate effectively. We need to find other donors and partners who also want to save lives,” said Regina Catrambone.

MOAS Director Martin Xuereb, Malta’s former Chief of Defence, said the MOAS mission had become even more relevant with the winding down of Mare Nostrum, the Italian government’s initiative to save lives at sea.

“Whatever replaces Mare Nostrum must prioritise saving lives. The people we have rescued are coming from war-torn countries including Syria and Gaza, having travelled all the way to Libya which has deteriorated into violence once again. These people feel they have no option but to flee and are risking their lives to find safety. We must not let them drown,” Brigadier Xuereb said.

Press Release