Media Advisory – Press Conference
16 juin 2018

After Italy denied Aquarius, the search and rescue vessel operated by SOS MEDITERRANEE in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), authorization to disembark 629 rescued people in a nearby port of safety, Aquarius embarked on a four-day journey to Spain. It disembarks in Valencia on Sunday 17 June.

SOS MEDITERRANEE and MSF describe the unnecessary long journey to Spain and the ordeal of the past week. SOS MEDITERRANEE and MSF urge European leaders to facilitate disembarkation of the rescued people in nearby safe ports and set up proactive and dedicated search and rescue mechanisms in the Central Mediterranean.

When: Sunday, June 17th 2018, from 16:30 to 17:30

Where: Veles i Vents, Marina Real, Valencia, Spain – Press accreditations: acreditaciones@gva.es

Who:  Sophie Beau, co-Founder and vice-President SOS MEDITERRANEE

Nicola Stalla, Search and Rescue Coordinator SOS MEDITERRANEE

Frédéric Pénard, Director of Operations SOS MEDITERRANEE

David Beversluis, Medical Doctor, Médecins Sans Frontières

             Aloys Vimard, Project Coordinator, Médecins Sans Frontières

             Karline Kleijer, head of Emergencies, Médecins Sans Frontières

Contact:

SOS MEDITERRANEE:

Mathilde Auvillain : +39 347 328 24 12 m.auvillain@sosmediterranee.org and Sophie Rahal : +33 6 29 35 29 37

Médecins Sans Frontières:

Guillermo Algar : +3 464 601 73 07 guillermo.algar@madrid.msf.org and Igor Garcia: +34 630 971 146 igor.garcia@barcelona.msf.org