Interview with SOS Humanity | GISIRA Festival

Fortress Europe: The Human Cost of European Politics against migrants in the Mediterranean.

As part of GISIRA: Mediterranean Alternatives—a festival that explores the Mediterranean through music and culture, promoting diversity, inclusion, and critical reflection—Refuge Worldwide presents an interview with Till Rummenhohl, General Director of the NGO SOS Humanity. The conversation delves into the current state of civil sea rescue in the central Mediterranean, shedding light on the operational, legal, and political obstacles faced by humanitarian actors at sea. Rummenhohl discusses the increasing criminalization of rescue efforts, the shrinking space for civil society, and the urgent need to reframe public discourse around migration. Through his testimony, the interview offers a critical perspective on European border policies and calls attention to the human cost of inaction, emphasizing solidarity and shared responsibility as the only sustainable path forward.

This radio show is part of Refugee Week on Air, an international radio programme dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of musicians, activists, and creators from refugee backgrounds around the world.

The interview was made possible through the collaboration of Siracusa-based initiatives: co-curated with Michela Messina from centro CIAO, who contributed to shaping the content, and conducted by Viviana Cannizzo from MetaBorgata. Each of these organizations plays a vital role in different stages of support for people on the move, forming a local network of action and solidarity. The interview was recorded at La Barca Ortigia, a floating cultural center moored in the port of Syracuse, and the content is supported and produced by Kadmonia, the cultural association behind GISIRA.

photo credits: Lizzie Gilson