
“The sea can be a dangerous place,” said Jenelle Eli from the deck of the Ocean Viking. Eli, who is an American Red Cross employee deployed on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is working alongside NGO SOS MEDITERRANEE to rescue people from the waters of the central Mediterranean Sea.
Today the crew rescued nearly 140 people, some of whom are women and children. Watch this gripping video to see more details of the work on board the SOS MEDITERRANEE.
“We've gone through a lot of training to keep ourselves safe and ensure survivors feel comfortable onboard after they're rescued,” she said. The crew is providing first aid, comfort, dry clothes, food and blankets to those they rescue.
Eli says that for many years now, lives have been needlessly lost on the long and treacherous Central Mediterranean route between Libya and Europe — the most dangerous migrant route in the world.
In the first nine months of this year, 1,200 people are known to have died trying to cross it in small wooden boats or inflatable dinghies. While these are the officially recorded numbers, it is believed that many more have perished at sea.
Eli says that her biggest hope for this mission is that people will feel safe and cared for while onboard.
“Part of my role is to bear witness to the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Mediterranean Sea. I hope I can do justice to families’ stories about their journeys and shed light on the people who are helping.”
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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