A day of rescue in the Mediterranean
Action zones
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
International
The project
International solidaritySolidarity
SOS MÉDITERRANÉE is a European civil sea rescue association. It was created in spring 2015 thanks to the mobilization of citizens determined to act in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe of shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean.
40 915
peoplehave been rescued by SOS MEDITERANNÉE since 2016
24 000
eurosis the cost of a day's rescue at sea
29
%of survivors are minors
Solution
Based in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, its actions respond to a moral imperative and fall within a clear legal framework: the obligation to assist any person in distress at sea.
The association pursues three missions:
- SAVE lives at sea through search-and-rescue operations for boats in distress, in compliance with maritime and international law;
- PROTECT and CARE for those rescued through emergency care delivered on board, medical-psychological listening and support, as well as accompaniment to a safe place where their lives are no longer threatened and their basic needs can be met ;
- WITNESS the situation in the Mediterranean and raise awareness among the general public, institutions and governments of this humanitarian drama unfolding on Europe's doorstep.
The association pursues three missions:
- SAVE lives at sea through search-and-rescue operations for boats in distress, in compliance with maritime and international law;
- PROTECT and CARE for those rescued through emergency care delivered on board, medical-psychological listening and support, as well as accompaniment to a safe place where their lives are no longer threatened and their basic needs can be met ;
- WITNESS the situation in the Mediterranean and raise awareness among the general public, institutions and governments of this humanitarian drama unfolding on Europe's doorstep.
Thanks to the mobilization of citizens, the first boat was chartered in 2016 to respond to the humanitarian emergency. The Aquarius until 2018, then the Ocean Viking, are citizen boats financed 91% by private funds. On board, professional rescue sailors scan the sea and come to the rescue of the boats, often in difficult conditions. The refugees, 11% of whom are women and 30% minors, receive medical and psychological care until disembarkation in a safe port. SOS Méditerranée's action is always carried out in coordination with the maritime authorities and in strict compliance with international maritime rescue laws.
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A little girl like any other
At 9, Line is a little girl like any other. She laughs, plays, squabbles with her brothers and sisters, and dreams of being a dentist when she grows up. Yet she has already been through unimaginable hardships.
"At sea, the boat was pitching a lot. We almost capsized. Everyone was jostling each other. When you arrived, we all started crying."
A few months ago, she was rescued with her parents and siblings in the middle of the Mediterranean, at the end of a long journey from Lebanon. Line suffers from severe jaw pain and has to undergo treatment that her parents could no longer afford. Her disabled twin sister also required regular and expensive care.
In these conditions, the family took the painful decision to leave Lebanon, taking insane risks in the hope of a better life where their daughters could be properly cared for. Sadly, Line's twin sister did not survive the journey.
This family are among the 40,915 people rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE since 2016. Their stories are rarely happy ones, and their tales of exile are all punctuated by painful ordeals. On the other hand, their emotion and relief at being rescued, welcomed and cared for are always immense.
With your support, we will continue to be at sea to rescue all those in mortal danger, like Line and her family. Help us continue our vital rescue mission!
"At sea, the boat was pitching a lot. We almost capsized. Everyone was jostling each other. When you arrived, we all started crying."
A few months ago, she was rescued with her parents and siblings in the middle of the Mediterranean, at the end of a long journey from Lebanon. Line suffers from severe jaw pain and has to undergo treatment that her parents could no longer afford. Her disabled twin sister also required regular and expensive care.
In these conditions, the family took the painful decision to leave Lebanon, taking insane risks in the hope of a better life where their daughters could be properly cared for. Sadly, Line's twin sister did not survive the journey.
This family are among the 40,915 people rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE since 2016. Their stories are rarely happy ones, and their tales of exile are all punctuated by painful ordeals. On the other hand, their emotion and relief at being rescued, welcomed and cared for are always immense.
With your support, we will continue to be at sea to rescue all those in mortal danger, like Line and her family. Help us continue our vital rescue mission!
A painful moment at sea
Dear Captains,
Thanks to your support, our teams were able to rescue 64 people during two separate rescue operations in the Libyan search and rescue region last weekend. We know that our place is at sea, reaching out to those who are drowning.
But our teams also experienceda very difficult time in the midst of the rescue operations.
"There's not much to say when faced with a body floating at sea. One person's death should be enough to change policies. This deceased person has been found, but it proves that many others disappear without anyone knowing."
These are the words of Alisha, communications officer on board the Ocean Viking after the tragic discovery of a lifeless body between two rescue operations last Sunday. The day before, the Geo Barents, a vessel of the NGO Médecins sans Frontières, had recovered 11 other bodies in this specific area of the Mediterranean.Our thoughts are with the families of the missing.
Thanks to your support, our teams were able to rescue 64 people during two separate rescue operations in the Libyan search and rescue region last weekend. We know that our place is at sea, reaching out to those who are drowning.
But our teams also experienceda very difficult time in the midst of the rescue operations.
"There's not much to say when faced with a body floating at sea. One person's death should be enough to change policies. This deceased person has been found, but it proves that many others disappear without anyone knowing."
These are the words of Alisha, communications officer on board the Ocean Viking after the tragic discovery of a lifeless body between two rescue operations last Sunday. The day before, the Geo Barents, a vessel of the NGO Médecins sans Frontières, had recovered 11 other bodies in this specific area of the Mediterranean.Our thoughts are with the families of the missing.
The money will be used for
SOS Méditerranée is dedicated to deploying professional rescue operations and employs professional maritime and medico-social teams both on board and ashore.
Donations will go towards the renewal of lifejackets (180€ for 5 lifejackets), the distribution of welcome kits on board (50€/kit), the on-board care for one person (100€/day) or the sharply rising cost of fuel.
Donations will go towards the renewal of lifejackets (180€ for 5 lifejackets), the distribution of welcome kits on board (50€/kit), the on-board care for one person (100€/day) or the sharply rising cost of fuel.
1
2
5
days of food on board for a survivor
already funded51 difts
Action zones
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
International
Why we love it?
We love this association, which has been fighting tirelessly since the 2015 migrant crisis, which had shaken us all, in order to preserve lives and limit the humanitarian catastrophe.
"Better to die at sea than be forced to return to Libya".
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SOS Méditerranée is a certified association meeting these six criteria:
Financial stability
Innovation
Ambition
Governance
Transparency
Systemic impact
Sustainable development goals
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