Life Support Disembarks 49 Rescued People in Ancona

On Sunday 17 November, at 4:10 p.m., 49 people rescued by EMERGENCY's search and rescue ship Life Support disembarked in Ancona, Italy. They were rescued on 12 November from a boat in distress that was identified directly from the bridge of Life Support, in the international waters of the Maltese search and rescue (SAR) zone. This is the fifth mission in which Life Support has been assigned to a port in the northern Adriatic Sea, about five days of navigation from where the rescue took place.

"We have finished the disembarkation of the rescued people and everything has proceeded as normal," comments Domenico Pugliese, captain of Life Support. "It is the first time that the authorities have assigned us the port of Ancona, but overall it is the fifth that we have been sent to a POS [place of safety] located in the north of the Adriatic. Reaching these ports involves a long journey from the SAR zone, and therefore an extended absence from the operational area, and further difficulties for the survivors. We are preparing for our next mission."

Among the 49 people rescued are six women, and six children travelling alone. Their countries of origin include Bangladesh, Egypt and Syria - countries impacted by armed conflict, political instability, corruption and widespread poverty.

"On board, the rescued people were mainly from Syria, where conflict continues to mark people's lives, despite the fact that it is talked about less and less," says Chiara Picciocchi, Cultural Mediator on board. "We often hear stories of people who leave Syria to find work, or not to be discriminated against. It is important to remember that the legacy of war continues for years even after an armed conflict decreases in intensity, which is why there are still so many people who are risking their lives to move from Syria to Libya and then to Europe: they are seeking a better life, in a place where they can see their rights respected. We can only wish them the best."

On board, a 40-year-old Syrian woman shared her story:

"After graduating as a pharmacist in Syria, I decided to move to Baghdad, Iraq, because I couldn't find a job in my country. It was not an easy choice, but my family was relying on me. I lived and worked in Iraq for several years. Over time, I developed the idea of going to Europe. In August, I finally left. I took a plane to Benghazi, and from there I went to Tripoli with other Syrian women.

Travelling only with women and just one man, as a driver, generates suspicion in Libya. We were stopped several times. They asked us where our husbands were, where we were going. We were told that the only way to pass by was to do 'favours' to the guards. Obviously, we could not say no.

From August to November, I tried four times to cross the sea. Three times, we were intercepted in the water and forced to turn back. The fourth time, thanks to you, we succeeded. One of our engines had broken down and the other was malfunctioning. We would have been stuck in the middle of the sea and many of us were ready to die, but when we saw your red ship, we felt reborn. Now, I dream of joining family friends in England."

Since December 2022, Life Support has performed 48 rescues across 26 missions, rescuing a total of 2,342 people.