EKD migration expert Präses Manfred Rekowski visits rescue team in Malta
Live report on trip from 16 to 18 July 2018 in the social media
The chair of the Advisory Commission on Migration and Integration of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Präses Manfred Rekowski, is leaving for Malta on Monday 16 July to Wednesday 18 July. Rekowski, who is president of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, plans to visit civilian rescue ships that have been detained by the authorities, to meet with helpers and to commemorate those who have died en route to Europe. The stages of the trip can be followed live on Facebook (posted by the EKD and the Rhineland church), as well as in the church president’s blog.
Civilian rescue ships such as Sea-Watch 3 are no longer permitted to circulate on the Mediterranean. Since 2017, the Sea-Watch organisation has assisted in rescuing 20,000 people. Moonbird, its aerial reconnaissance plane, is currently prevented from leaving its station in Malta in the direction of Libya. Sea-watch operates the Moonbird flights with EKD support.
Präses Manfred Rekowski’s travel plan (extracts):
Monday 16 July 2018, afternoon: visit to rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 in the port of Valletta and talks with the crew and helpers on board.
Tuesday 17 July 2018, morning: short flight on Moonbird from Luqa airport in order to gain an impression of the general conditions under which rescue missions operate. After that, the press will have an opportunity for interviews outside the airport premises.
Tuesday 17 July 2018, afternoon: commemoration of refugees who drowned in the Mediterranean, at the Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery in Paola near Valletta.
Wednesday 18 July 2018, morning: visit to the Sea-Watch office in Kalkara. Rekowski will make a final statement there and be available for interviews.
Communication channels:
Live videos, photos and reports on Facebookseite der EKD, Facebookseite der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland and Präsesblog. Video and audio material will be issued on request, at short notice, by the press office of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, both during and after the trip
You are also welcome to request an interview via the Rhineland church press office: Tel. +49(0)2114562373, email pressestelle@ekir.de
Media contact / accompaniment in Malta:
Wolfgang Beiderwieden, deputy press officer of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, tel. +49(0)15201820465, email wolfgang.beiderwieden@ekir.de
Hanover, 11 July 2018
EKD Press Office
Kerstin Kipp