Their dignity must not die at sea: identification by any means.
Sunday morning the bodies of 13 people left Lampedusa, on board the ferry SIREMAR, headed to Porto Empedocle.
Among them, a baby of a few months, died from hunger, was recovered by Humanity 1 the past 28th May. From then, her body was kept in the morgue of the cemetery of Lampedusa, under the heat of the sun without any refrigeration.
On Saturday, the 11 bodies were recovered from the Geo Barents.
The bodies spent the night inside a hall of the Lampedusa Municipality, which also lacks refrigeration. The thirteenth victim, recovered by the Ocean Viking on Saturday, arrived at Favarolo pier this morning and was immediately transported onto the regular ferry.
Two other bodies were spotted at sea but were not recovered.
Unfortunately, it is hard to imagine they will be: the civilian fleet had to leave the Central Mediterranean, forced to dock in very distant ports.
Let us remember these fifteen people with these fifteen points, aware of the need to leave a trace of this tragedy. What happened is yet another proof of a deadly policy, and the "never again" will not be enough if the structural system that limits borders and freedom of movement for everyone does not change.
These 15 bodies add to the over 924 deaths in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of 2024—and the 30,000 since 2014.
The dignity of the dead must not die at sea: it is essential to allow those searching for their loved ones to find them. The Italian authorities must adhere to national, European, and international directives, as stated in the Declaration of Mytilene.
The dignity of the dead must not die at sea: clear and verifiable procedures are necessary for the recognition (even subsequent) of the bodies. DNA samples must be collected and preserved, along with fingerprint, photographic, and anthropometric records.
The dignity of the dead must not die at sea: bodies must be stored in appropriate places, the burial location of the remains must be known, and families must be allowed to choose how to bury their loved ones and/or facilitate their repatriation.
It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the Italy-Libya memorandum.
It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the agreements between Italy and Tunisia.
It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the agreements between Italy and Egypt, Turkey, and Lebanon, which externalize the borders.
It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the 600 million euros of funding to Frontex.
It was not the Mediterranean that killed them but the Security Decree and subsequent laws, which empty the Mediterranean of the civilian fleet engaged in search and rescue, allowing the tragedy to continue.
We stand with the Ocean Viking, en route to the port of Marina di Carrara.It was not the sea that killed them; it was the security decree, which empties the Mediterranean of the civilian fleet engaged in search and rescue, allowing the tragedy to continue.
We stand with the Geo Barents, en route to the port of Genoa.It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the ordinances trying to prevent reconnaissance planes from flying, the only eyes of civil society over the Mediterranean.
We stand with Airborne.It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the 653 million euros spent on building and managing detention centers in Albania.
It was not the Mediterranean that killed them; it was the policies inaugurated at Schengen: free movement, yes, but only for Europeans.
Respect for the dead, safe and legal access routes for the living.
Respect for the dead, stop deportations—to Rwanda, to Albania, and elsewhere.
Rest in power.
