On August 25th 2014, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) was the first civil sea rescue organization to respond to the high number of shipwrecks and deaths in the Mediterranean with a rescue operation.

In the same year that MOAS began its mission, the official Italian maritime operation 'Mare Nostrum' stopped its work.

Since then, there has been no state organized sea rescue in the Mediterranean. Instead, Operation Triton, led by the EU border agency Frontex, was launched, focusing on border security rather than rescuing people in need of protection.

Over the past decade, several private organizations have saved many lives, but the humanitarian crisis remains unresolved.

Also read: Hundreds of migrants rescued in Central Mediterranean

'The situation remains dire'

"Over the past ten years, civilian sea rescue organizations have taken over the responsibility generally held by EU member states. Much has changed politically in that time, but the humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean remains dire," says Gorden Isler, chair of Sea-Eye e. V.

"Instead of relying on state-organized sea rescues, Europe continues its isolation policy. Laws against civilian sea rescue organisations have been created in Italy and, worst of all, thousands of people are still dying every year in search of asylum and protection."

"The EU Member States must stop criminalizing our work and finally create a European state sea rescue organization with a clear mission to save as many lives as possible in the Mediterranean!"

Also read: Lost at sea: New constraints hinder Mediterranean rescuers

Born in 2015

Sea-Eye was established in 2015 and began its first rescue missions the following year. Despite the commitment of civilian sea rescue organizations, the Mediterranean Sea is considered the most dangerous escape route in the world.

According to the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Missing Migrants Project, more than 30,000 people have disappeared or died in the Mediterranean since 2014.

The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.