Provide Emergency Care for Children Rescued at Sea

When their boat began to fill with water in the middle of a Mediterranean storm, more than sixty people did the only thing they could: they swam toward a light in the darkness. That light was the Miskar gas platform — an offshore facility in the Gulf of Gabès, off the coast of Tunisia. They climbed onto the lower boarding deck and held on. Platform workers gave them food and blankets. And then they waited.

They waited for four nights. Every relevant authority had been notified. No state rescue operation came. It was only on the fifth day that the Ocean Viking arrived and brought all 116 people to safety — among them 39 unaccompanied minors, 13 women, two babies, and one young child. Many had survived not only the storm, but months of imprisonment and violence before ever reaching the sea. As one survivor put it: "I have only tears."

Since January 1st, 2026, our teams have assisted:

• 609 people rescued in the Central Mediterranean
• 113 children, of whom 110 were travelling alone
• 2 pregnant women and 22 women in total
• Survivors from Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Eritrea

At the same time, 2026 has become the Mediterranean's deadliest year on record: at least 1,000 people have died or gone missing so far, according to the IOM — a figure believed to significantly undercount the real toll. Since SOS MEDITERRANEE's founding a decade ago, our teams have rescued 43,350 people in total. In that same period, over 6,070 people were violently intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and forcibly returned. Last week, May 13th, one of the people we rescued died from complications from the violence he faced in Libya. A ceremony was held in his memory.

It is hard to have a trace of those missing at sea, because it leaves no evidence. Our air operations helped us spot the corpse of a shipwreck. The Albatross UNO, our civil observation aircraft, which helps locate boats in distress and document situations of concern at sea. Together, the Ocean Viking and the Albatross mission represent a complete search and rescue system — made possible entirely by donors like you. 

Each day of operations costs approximately $27,000, with costs rising due to the closure of the Hormuz strait. This cost covers fuel, medical supplies, food, water, and child-sized life jackets. If you would like to follow our work or speak directly with our team about the impact of your support, we warmly welcome you to get in touch with us at a.shetty[@]sosmediterranee.org 

Testimony of Survivors from the Miskar Platform : https://www.sosmediterranee.org/testimony/marcus-we-were-stuck-on-a-platform-for-days/

Links:

• Report - 10 Years of Our Operations
• A body at sea

• 10 Year Report - Into the Storm - SOS MEDITERRANEE (PDF)
  

As families around the world gathered to welcome the New Year, the Ocean Viking was finally back at sea. While celebrations took place on land, our teams were responding to people in distress in the Mediterranean, rescuing families and children just hours into the ship’s first patrol after months away. This return followed an unprecedented attack on our humanitarian rescue and medical ship by the Libyan Coast Guard in international waters, which had forced the Ocean Viking out of service for repairs. Being back at sea marked a renewed commitment to assist people in danger with care, dignity, and experience - consider it our resolution for 2026!

Since resuming operations, our teams have assisted 123 people, including families with young children, bringing the total number of people rescued in 2025 to 1,358, and 90 people assisted so far in 2026. Here's the breakdown : 

• During the first rescue after returning to sea on the 31st of December, 33 people from two families were brought safely on board, among them infants, young children, and a pregnant woman traveling alone - many fleeing war in Sudan. Later that same day, while heading to assist another boat in distress, the Ocean Viking was instructed by the Libyan Coast Guard to leave the area to ensure the safety of those already on board.
  
  
• Last week, the Ocean Viking rescued 46 people from a rubber boat in distress in international waters. Among them were two babies around one year old, a 15-year-old child, and three women. Not even a few days later, they saved another 44 people and this time the survivors were severely dehydrated after days at sea; many were too weak to walk and required immediate support. Thanks to the onboard clinic and trained teams, urgent medical care was provided as soon as they reached safety.

These moments illustrate why readiness matters. Each rescue depends on child-sized life jackets, medical supplies, fuel, food, water, and hygiene items that add upto almost $27,000 of costs per day for a rescue at sea. Essentials allow care to begin the moment people step on board.

How can you support rescue at sea? VERY EASILY.

1. Sign up to our newsletter and talk to your friends and family about our mission!
2. Become a monthly donor or sponsor a life jacket through a one-off donation.
3. Follow us our on social media and engage with our updates by sharing them in your circles. 

 With continued donor support, the Ocean Viking remains prepared to respond whenever families and children are in distress at sea, providing protection and care during the most critical hours of their journey. Get in touch with us by e-mail, through our website contact form or on our social media channels if you want to learn more about the organization or the impact of your donation. We are transparent and happy to set up a call with our donors to keep you informed and aware!

Links:

• Testimony of a Sudanese family fleeing war on our website.
• How our medical care works on board the ship.
• How we will integrate Air support operations into our Search!