a new normal
Central Mediterranean, 2021
Since 2019, European state vessels have largely disappeared from the central Mediterranean.
It is civilian actors who have filled the vacuum. Without their ships and their watch from the sky, little of what happens here would reach the public. They document, they rescue, and they bear witness — often alone, often under pressure.
The pandemic has added layers of logistical strain. And yet, their presence continues to highlight a broader shift: the quiet normalization of absence.
This is what remains when border policy turns inward, and deterrence becomes routine.
A photo report from the Mediterranean, 2021.
Originally published in Amnesty Journal 04/22.
Short story of a push-back
„More secure borders will also help us to manage migration in a more structured and fair way. […] We put solidarity at the heart of our common response...“
„We need a common approach on returns, to make them more effective and dignified. And we need to develop our comprehensive partnerships, in particular across our Southern neighbourhood.“
A patrol vessel of the so-called Libyan Coast Guard blocks the fast rescue boats of Sea-Watch, to intercept the ongoing rescue and pull back the people on the move to Libya. Hundreds of millions of euros have been provided to these units to reduce arrivals at any cost. The force acts unpredictably, with repeated incidents of violence against civilian rescue ships and harsh treatment of people on the boats. The measure serves one purpose: to prevent as many people as possible from reaching Europe.
Arrival in Trapani, Sicily: The guests undergo registration and health checks. COVID-19 measures and administrative routines determine the process of disembarking the ship.
Chapter II
„...Always remembering that migrants are human beings like you and me. And all of us, we are protected by human rights.“