Migration in the news

Our rescue ship the Ocean Viking is undergoing repairs after being fired upon by the Libyan Coast Guard on August 24. In the meantime, we’ll be rounding up news stories about migration in and around the Mediterranean. These articles provide more context for our work saving people in distress at sea. To read more about why people are forced flee, click here.

Euronews: Deaths at sea remain high despite fewer irregular migrants to EU (27 October, 2025)
“Despite the overall decline, human costs remain high. In 2025, 1,328 migrants died or went missing while using the Mediterranean routes, with the majority of those identified being men, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).”

Euronews: European lawmakers call for end to EU support for all Libyan security forces (22 October, 2025)
“Nearly 40 members of the European Parliament from four political groups are urging an end to funding for all Libyan security forces, as violence at sea has dramatically increased in recent years.”

Politico EU: EU-backed Libyan Coast Guard increasing violent attacks at sea, report finds (14 October, 2025)
“The report, published Tuesday, documented 60 violent incidents since 2016 by Libyan militias including the Libyan Coast Guard. At least 54 of the violent incidents occurred in International waters within the Maltese or Libyan search-and-rescue zones, according to Sea-Watch.”

Politico EU: Time to stop funding Libyan militias running amok in the Mediterranean (9 October, 2025)
“EU countries should coordinate competent search and rescue operations, open routes for those fleeing to safety, and ensure the bloc stops financing out-of-control militias.”

Al-Jazeera: People & Power video series: Trapped in Tunisia (October 4, 2025)
“Thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa wait near the coast in Tunisia for an opportunity to make the treacherous voyage across the Mediterranean. Under an agreement signed with the European Union, the Tunisian government does what it can to stop them.”