Follow us on a 24-hour journey on the Responder rescue vessel, whose life-saving work in the Mediterranean is a partnership between the Red Cross and Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS). Since the beginning of its operations last August, the teams on board the ship have rescued over 1,500 people stranded at sea.
Scanning horizon
Red Cross team leader Eugenio Venturo scans the water with binoculars looking for an object picked up by radar.
Looking at instruments
On the bridge of the Responder, the crew use radar, maps and other information to spot boats in trouble.
Rescue
Before dawn, the spotlight illuminates a dinghy overloaded with people hoping to sail to Europe. The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) and Red Cross team goes into action to rescue people.
Rescue
MOAS rescuers toss life jackets to people they are about to rescue. Almost none of the passengers already have life jackets. Almost no one can swim.
Dangerous boats
More than 150 men, women and children squeeze on a deadly rubber dinghy that has lost its motor and whose stern is damaged.
Baby rescue
MOAS crew members receive a small boy transferred after a rescue from another ship.
Helping people on board
MOAS and Red Cross team members help rescued people board the Responder.
On board
Once on board, rescued people are often exhausted from their ordeal on the Mediterranean Ocean and a difficult journey beforehand that might have taken many months. Finally safe on board, they begin to relax.
Food prep
Red Cross team leader, Eugenio Venturo, from the Italian Red Cross, gets cookies ready to give rescued people on the voyage to safety.
Thermal blankets
To keep people warm night, the Red Cross distributes thermal “blankets”.
Medical evacuation
Red Cross nurses Kerstin (Keri) Jantschgi and Nicole Rähle, both from the Swiss Red Cross, treat a man with burn injuries before he is evacuated to hospital.
Tallying passengers
Eugenio Venturo, from Italy and the leader of the Red Cross team, checks a whiteboard on the Responder where the team tallies men, women and children who have been rescued.
Talking with passengers
Kerstin (Keri) Jantschgi, from the Swiss Red Cross, is a nurse in the Red Cross team on the Responder. She shares a laugh with rescued people.
Baby and dad
Kerstin (Keri) Jantschgi, from the Swiss Red Cross, is a nurse in the Red Cross team on the Responder. She shares a laugh with rescued people.
Baby food
Red Cross nurse Kerstin (Keri) Jantschgi from Switzerland prepares baby formula for youngsters rescued by the Responder in the Mediterranean.
Kids
Red Cross nurse Nicole Rähle, from Switzerland, takes special care of young passengers.
Disembarkation
Italian Red Cross staff and volunteers welcome rescued people with shoes, blankets, clothes, a hot meal and the chance to tell family members they are alive and well.
IFRC team members Dr Cristian Plaiasu, left, and team leader Eugenio Venturo, both from the Italian Red Cross, grab breakfast on the Responder before the day begins again.
