In the past months, @SOSMedIntl has witnessed a proliferation of state & non-state actors in the international waters off #Libya. Unidentified armed actors endangered the lives of survivors & crew. A look back at 3 key events👇

“Why all this? For a dignified life?” Just hours after the passing of his daughter, 7yo Rahaf, her father wrote this powerful poem. He reminds us about the risks that people have to take to reach a place of safety and their deadly consequences.

111 women and men disembarked in #Ancona today. This arrival tastes of anger as a 7 years old girl didn’t survive the journey. Her father reached safety alone. This could have been prevented. We are outraged.

After being brought back to the Ocean Viking, a little girl lost her heartbeat. She was resuscitated on deck, before being medically evacuated to Malta. We are devastated to learn that the 7yo did not survive. Once again, a lost life that could have been prevented.

The #OceanViking is now heading to the distant port of Ancona, 1,400 km away from the area of operations, imposing a 3,5 days of travel to survivors who have endured a deeply traumatic experience at sea.

We are relieved to see these people are now safe on board our rescue ship. However, we remember those who tragically lost their lives 2 days ago in the central #Mediterranean. Thanks to the NGO @sea_punks 18 people could survive.

Rescue completed! This afternoon, the 43 remaining survivors, including a 9-months-pregnant woman, disembarked in #Genova in the North of Italy, after 4 days of unnecessary prolonged navigation. We wish them the best as they finally reach a safe place.

2/2 The #OceanViking is resuming course to #Genova in the north of Italy to disembark the 43 people still onboard, including 2 pregnant women, one being in her 9th months and people with medical cases.

3/3 Since 2022, @sosmedintl lost 171 days due to the distant port policy, days that could have been spent rendering assistance to people in distress. This deliberate policy leaves countless lives at risk in the #Mediterranean, in blatant violation of maritime law

For being Hazara, an ethnic minority, and for being a woman, Shararah* has been persecuted by Taliban fighters. She decided to flee for her safety. The repression against women in Afghanistan is constantly worsening: 👉

This morning, 101 survivors, incl. 7 children, finally reached a Place of Safety in #Taranto after enduring 2 days of unnecessary hardship with waves up to 3,5 meters. Nearly half of the survivors required treatment for seasickness. We now wish them all the best!

2d of navigation with up to 3.5 mt waves, in extremely windy and cold weather: this is what survivors and @SOSMedIntl teams are experiencing on board of the Ocean Viking, to reach the port of Taranto. Italian authorities have denied us a closer PoS, despite several requests

Italian authorities have denied a closer Place of Safety for the disembarkation of 101 survivors. Among them is a 1-year-old baby suffering severe weather conditions. Despite forecasts of worsening weather, the #OceanViking is now being forced to continue course towards #Taranto.