Life Support Rescues Boat in Global Sumud Flotilla

Early on 29 September, EMERGENCY's search and rescue ship Life Support came to the aid of one of the boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla. Life Support is accompanying the Flotilla through international waters, acting as an observer and providing medical and logistical support.

Life Support launched its rescue dinghy (RHIB) in response to a mayday call from the Johnny M due to an unsolvable problem while sailing. The Life Support rescue team approached the boat in distress and took its 12 people on board, before relocating them to two other boats in the Flotilla. Life Support then recovered its RHIB, ending the operation at 5:58. Some of those rescued will continue their mission on another boat, while others will be taken ashore.

"At 4:00 a.m., we heard a mayday call on the radio from a Flotilla boat, to evacuate the people on board. We launched our RHIB and proceeded with the requested intervention, transferring the crew of the boat in distress to two other boats in the fleet," explains Anabel Montes Mier, EMERGENCY's Head of Mission on board Life Support. "There are now three military ships nearby, including one Italian and one Turkish, and we are continuing to sail alongside the Global Sumud Flotilla. We are available for further interventions if necessary."

The Flotilla's mission to Gaza continues, bringing urgent aid to the population and opening a humanitarian corridor. Both Life Support staff and Flotilla participants have continued to observe drones flying over the fleet.

The NGO ship will remain in international waters and will continue to act as an observer and provide medical assistance to participants in case of need. It will also continue to assist with repairing damaged technical equipment and to supply water and food to boats in the fleet. Life Support has already carried out 16 interventions for boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla, including six for technical problems, five for medical cases, two to distribute water and food, two to transfer people from one boat to another, and one rescue following a mayday call.

EMERGENCY entered Gaza in August 2024 and is present with two healthcare projects in al-Qarara and al-Mawasi, which together see an average of over 600 patients per day. On a daily basis, the NGO observes desperate conditions in which the population is forced to survive, including constant bombing and evacuation orders amid a lack of food, water, medicine and shelter.

"This is precisely what motivated us and hundreds of people around the world to join the Global Sumud Flotilla mission to bring aid to the people of Gaza," comments EMERGENCY. "This project is shared and supported by millions of people internationally, especially facing the inadequacy of political and institutional action. Our role in this mission remains that of an observer ship providing medical and logistical support. We will not participate in attempts to break the blockade but will remain at a distance from the coast, as agreed with the Flotilla."

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EMERGENCY's search and rescue ship Life Support has been operational since December 2022, rescuing over 3,000 people in 36 missions in the central Mediterranean Sea. Alongside the Flotilla, the ship sails with 29 people on board, including doctors, nurses, rescuers, cultural mediators, logisticians and crew.