Sea-Watch Pandora's Kharis cause for Skirophorion

Since the year 2000 more than 23.000 people have died trying to reach Europe’s shores. Three business partners from Germany decided to found the non-profit NGO Sea-Watch e.V. in an effort to bring down those numbers. Since November 2015 Sea-Watch is working between Lesbos and the Turkish mainland to prevent further deaths in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, recording the highest number of drowned refugees in 2015. Pandora's Kharis members and any passing kind stranger can help them achieve this goal this month, because Sea-Watch has become Pandora's Kharis' cause for Skirophoria 2016.

The ship MS Sea-Watch was bought and refitted with a crew of volunteers, working day and night to make the vessel suitable for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Due to scarce financial resources Sea-Watch had to improvise in terms of technical solutions. The success of the project was based mostly on hard work and the collaborative effort of a highly professional and motivated team. This was and remains Sea-Watch’s biggest asset. At the end of the launch season of the project, Sea-Watch can look back on a summer where it has been able to save the lives of more than 2.000 people found in distress at sea throughout seven missions.

In the winter months Sea-Watch started its mission between Lesbos, Greece, and the Turkish mainland, again facing a situation totally thrown out of joint. They are currently analyzing the difficult operational conditions to develop standard procedures for their missions. Additionally, theyare trying to establish an efficient network consisting of the many different initiatives, volunteers and official authorities.

You can help Sea-Watch become an even more valuable asset on the Aegean sea. The deadline to donate is July 8, 2016. You can do so by using the PayPal option to the side or by donating directly to baring.the.aegis@gmail.com. Thank you in advance!