SOS MEDITERRANEE

In just two days of aerial monitoring, our crew spotted 5 distress cases in the Mediterranean. 4 of these were successfully rescued thanks to Sea-Watch 5 and the fast asset Aurora

Sea-Watch 5 performed one rescue, and Aurora conducted two rescue operations+ stabilized one more boat in distress until the arrival of the Italian Coast Guard, which eventually rescued the rubber boat. The coordinated efforts between civilian assets made all the difference.

All 99 survivors, including 29 minors and 27 women, have safely disembarked in #Naples. Three days ago, #OceanViking teams rescued 101 people from two rubber boats in distress after days and nights at sea. A pregnant woman was evacuated to Lampedusa, accompanied by her husband.

🚨1/4 Over 3 days, #AlbatrossUNO, documented an increase in Libyan maritime assets operating in international waters. Patrol boats, fast RHIBs and unidentified vessels were repeatedly spotted near boats in distress.

3/4 #Frontex aircrafts were present during both interceptions documented by AlbatrossUNO. Meanwhile, shipwrecks continue, lives are being lost, and these assets are not being used to save people in distress.

🚨1/4 Over 3 days, #AlbatrossUNO, documented an increase in Libyan maritime assets operating in international waters. Patrol boats, fast RHIBs and unidentified vessels were repeatedly spotted near boats in distress.

Yesterday, on the second day of deployment for our monitoring aircraft Albatross Uno, our crew spotted a black rubber boat carrying around 20 people. The sponsons were already partially deflated, placing those on board at immediate risk. People were later rescued by @sea-eye.org 5.

Later on, our crew spotted another black rubber boat carrying ~30 people adrift in international waters. People on board were intercepted by a Libyan GACS patrol vessel donated by Italy and the EU and forcibly returned to Libya, in violation of International maritime and human rights law.

Last night, 75 people, including 39 minors and 9 women, disembarked in Salerno after being rescued by the #OceanViking. Our teams had rescued 78 people in total. The previous day, a two-day-old newborn was medically evacuated with their mother and sister.

More than half of those who disembarked were minors. Among them were twins who celebrated their sixth birthday aboard. Their mother told us it was a birthday neither she nor her children would ever forget.

Today, our team aboard the #OceanViking carried out 3 rescues of 17, 16 and 45 people in the Maltese SRR. Among the survivors are 12 women, a two-day-old baby and a five-month-old baby. All had heat exhaustion; some also had dehydration and fuel burns.

The first rescue followed a Mayday Relay matching a distress case reported by @alarmphone.bsky.social and later spotted by @seawatchitaly.bsky.social ’s SeaBird 3 aircraft. The 17 survivors had spent approximately 26 hours at sea.

Another reality often left unmentioned is that these policies are pushing people onto longer and more dangerous routes, including the substantially longer journey from Libya to Crete, where search and rescue coverage is more limited.

While fewer people are attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, what remains largely unsaid is that the risk of dying or going missing at sea has increased significantly.

One year ago, our rescue vessel Ocean Viking came under heavy fire from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel Houn 664 while carrying 87 people we had been rescued at sea. A year later, no one has been held accountable.

Last week, our monitoring aircraft, Albatross, spotted 17 bodies floating at sea over several days - the latest sign of what may have been another invisible shipwreck. At least 910 people have died or gone missing in the Central Mediterranean this year alone.

One year ago, our rescue vessel Ocean Viking came under heavy fire from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel Houn 664 while carrying 87 people we had been rescued at sea. A year later, no one has been held accountable.

We are seeing a new and deeply worrying pattern in the Central Mediterranean. Between June and July 2026, unidentified boats and vessels belonging to Libyan actors approached SAR NGO vessels at high speed and followed them in international waters for extended periods.

One year ago, our rescue vessel Ocean Viking came under heavy fire from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel Houn 664 while carrying 87 people we had been rescued at sea. A year later, no one has been held accountable.

SOS MEDITERRANEE has launched legal proceedings in Italy, France and Germany. We are also continuing to seek accountability through European institutions and United Nations mechanisms.

One year ago, our rescue vessel Ocean Viking came under heavy fire from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel Houn 664 while carrying 87 people we had been rescued at sea. A year later, no one has been held accountable.

The attack badly damaged the Ocean Viking and left survivors and crew deeply traumatised. It should have led to an independent investigation, real accountability, and the suspension of EU support to LCG.

The 55 women, men & children rescued by the #OceanViking have finally reached safety in #Ortona this afternoon. Many endured horrific violence and unimaginable hardship in their countries of origin and along their journeys before facing the dangers of the Central Mediterranean.