Media Advisory - Press Conference

After Italy denied Aquarius, the search and rescue vessel operated by SOS MEDITERRANNEE 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 MEDITERRANNEE 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 17^th 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

Press contacts:                               

SOS MEDITERRANEE:

Mathilde Auvillain : +39 347 328 24 12 m.auvillain@sosmediterranee.org 

Sophie Rahal : +33 6 29 35 29 37

Médecins Sans Frontières:

Guillermo Algar : +3 464 601 73 07 guillermo.algar@madrid.msf.org

Igor Garcia: +34 630 971 146 igor.garcia@barcelona.msf.org