Mercury*, 20 years old, had to leave Tigray due to the conflict. She decided to flee to Libya in the hope of finding work to support her family. Once in Libya, she was kidnapped and imprisoned several times. youtu.be/hnq88xkxXUI

Yesterday, #OceanViking spotted a fiberglass boat with 29 people in the Italian SRR. ITMRCC instructed SOS MEDITERRANEE to assist them before Italian Coast Guards transferred everybody to their vessel. Survivors were at sea for 2 days, almost out of fuel & without food nor water.

This afternoon, 196 survivors on board the #OceanViking disembarked in #Ancona after navigating 1,500km. This distant port policy towards NGOs rescue vessels continues despite the tragic number of 30,002 lives lost in the Mediterranean since 2014. A sadly far underrated number.

On 04.08.19, #OceanViking left Marseille for her first mission. Over 10,000 children, women & men were rescued in 5 years. 10,000 faces, names, stories of incredible individuals who took one of the most dangerous maritime routes in the world to seek safety youtu.be/FZGt7hh0tLw

At only 17 years old, Alex* fled alone the war-torn city of Bor in South Sudan.After a hard journey across Sudan & Libya, he attempted to cross the central Mediterranean. Listen to his story, an incredible example of resilience. youtu.be/Iuzsvar7l_U

Today, we celebrate all humanitarian workers who, around the world and around the clock, work to protect people in need. Our teams commit to ensure that all people in distress at sea are brought to a place of safety. #WorldHumanitarianDay

Solidarity with #GeoBarents @MSF_sea detained by Italian authorities for 60 days after rescuing people in danger of drowning. Since the enforcement of Piantedosi Law, NGOs vessels have been detained 23 times while attempting to save lives. Criminalisation of SAR NGOs must stop.

📢Meet Ralph, a seafarer from Cuyo in the Philippines & member of our SAR team on board the #OceanViking as a driver. He has been contributing to SOS MEDITERRANEE's mission since its first days in 2016. Listen to his experience in the #Med for all these years. youtube.com/watch?v=6oLqxh…

If you were wondering what survivors eat onboard the Ocean Viking, Belgian reporter Wilson Fache, winner of the Albert Londres Prize, has it all set for you to learn more. His article, in French👉 t.ly/5EZlr

By detaining NGO rescue ships, Italian authorities are deliberately preventing us from rescuing women, men & children from drowning. Meanwhile yesterday, 21 people lost their lives in a tragic shipwreck off Lampedusa. Solidarity with Sea-Watch International MSF Sea #Seawatch5 #GeoBarents