Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
We travel to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where the port authorities have set up a well-oiled machine to keep migrants out of sight of tourists at all costs. Immediately upon arrival at the port, they are transferred to a detention center and then onto quarantine ships, back out to sea.
During aerial patrols over the sea it is filmed how all means are now being used to prevent migrants from reaching Europe. For example, the Libyan coast guard shoots with live ammunition to stop a boat with migrants. It is also filmed how a Dutch shipowner hands over a group of 170 migrants to the Libyan Coast Guard. This is a violation of international treaties, which require ships to take people to a safe haven.
To find out what happened to these migrants after this pushback, Bram Vermeulen travels to Sicily, to the port city of Genoa and Rotterdam. The decision of the Dutch shipowner turns out to have had fatal consequences. It also becomes clear that the responsibility for rescuing people has now shifted almost exclusively to commercial shipowners, now that aid organizations are hampered in every way possible to rescue people at sea. The regulations present shipowners with a devilish dilemma.VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
Presentation: Bram Vermeulen
Original tile: Frontlinie: Veilige haven, broadcasted: september 2021
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at VPRObroadcast.com
We travel to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where the port authorities have set up a well-oiled machine to keep migrants out of sight of tourists at all costs. Immediately upon arrival at the port, they are transferred to a detention center and then onto quarantine ships, back out to sea.
During aerial patrols over the sea it is filmed how all means are now being used to prevent migrants from reaching Europe. For example, the Libyan coast guard shoots with live ammunition to stop a boat with migrants. It is also filmed how a Dutch shipowner hands over a group of 170 migrants to the Libyan Coast Guard. This is a violation of international treaties, which require ships to take people to a safe haven.
To find out what happened to these migrants after this pushback, Bram Vermeulen travels to Sicily, to the port city of Genoa and Rotterdam. The decision of the Dutch shipowner turns out to have had fatal consequences. It also becomes clear that the responsibility for rescuing people has now shifted almost exclusively to commercial shipowners, now that aid organizations are hampered in every way possible to rescue people at sea. The regulations present shipowners with a devilish dilemma.VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
Presentation: Bram Vermeulen
Original tile: Frontlinie: Veilige haven, broadcasted: september 2021
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at VPRObroadcast.com
