Papierlose Zeitung: «Hery up please ???»: The records of a sea rescue

“On 9th September 2015, a Syrian woman contacts by whatsapp the shift team of Watch the Med Alarmphone, an independant hotline for boat people in distress. She is on a boat close to Lesbos. The engine is broken. The whatsapp conversation published here gives impressive insights into Alarmphone’s valuable work and shows clearly the reprehensibility of the European border policies which bring refugees in such dangerous and all too often deadly situations.”

External Link: Papierlose Zeitung: «Hery up please ???»: The records of a sea rescue

Alarmphone on X

Today, on 11 October 2026, Alarm Phone turns 12 years old.

Over this time, we have assisted more than 11.000 boats in distress at sea. We will not give up in our collective struggle against death at sea and the EU border regime. Freedom of movement for all!

🆘 ~51 people in distress in the Central Med!

We are in contact with a group fleeing from eastern Libya towards Sicily. They say they have run out of fuel and are drifting east of Malta now. Rescue and #SafePassages for all are needed now!

@HCoastGuard We have lost contact with the people in distress for over 30 hours but fear they are still at sea. We do not know of any rescue activity by either #Greece or #Egypt. Don't let these 37 people perish at sea! We call on the authorities to act without further delay!