More than a dozen European search and rescue organisations have announced the formation of a new alliance and suspended cooperation with their Libyan counterpart in response to what they say are years of ill-treatment of refugees and asylum seekers making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.

The 13-member alliance, which includes organisations from Germany, France, Spain and Italy, announced on Wednesday the creation of the Justice Fleet, whose mission will be to “uphold human rights and international maritime law”, according to a press release from NGO SOS Humanity, part of the new alliance.

The Justice Fleet also announced that it is “ending operational communication” with Libya’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Tripoli after “years of escalating human ri

See Full Page