The central Mediterranean remains the deadliest migratory route to Europe, with chilling statistics revealing a daily toll of at least 8 fatalities or missing persons in 2023. These “numbers” represent women, children, elderly men, and entire families fleeing from hunger, war, and countries that disregard human rights.
Every day, thousands of people board on overcrowded and dilapidated boats, for a journey of hope in search of a better future in Europe. Everyone is aware of the high risk of dying, but for them there is no alternative.
This project aims to show the tragic realities unfolding constantly in our seas and the action of the NGO Doctors Without Borders which – with its crew on board the Geo Barents – provides vital assistance to these people, despite ongoing legislative constraints imposed by a Europe that wants to avoid the arrival of migrants.
In the pictures, we can see 3 dramatic rescues occurred on March 15 and 16, 2024.
The Geo Barents crew rescued small fiberglass boats full of migrants adrift in the Libyan SAR zone. The boats had in total more than 250 people on board, almost half of whom were women and children. At the time of the rescue, one vessel that was in very precarious conditions capsized.
More than 40 people fell into the water and, exhausted after days of navigation, risked drowning. Fortunately, the MSF crew managed to rescue all the people who had fallen into the water.
Without the intervention of the NGO, these people, would have become another number that adds to the statistics of dead and missing at sea.