Stories of survivors

Yamal, Visca, and Joseph are 16, 17, and 17, respectively. The three are Somali and met in Libya after fleeing violence and extreme poverty. They were rescued the night of February 23, 2025 near an oil platform in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. 

Juba, 20, and Hassama, 13, are brothers who were rescued on April 7th, 2024, by the Ocean Viking teams on board a wooden boat in the Libyan search and rescue region. Originally from the Delta Valley in Egypt, they shared the difficult living conditions and lack of prospect for the future in Egypt that led them to leave for Libya, risking their lives in the attempt to cross the Mediterranean.

“What am I fighting for? For a future.”

At only 17 years old, Alex* fled the war-torn city of Bor in South Sudan alone. After a difficult journey across Sudan and Libya, he attempted to cross the central Mediterranean on an overcrowded wooden boat. Listen to his inspiring story, an incredible example of resilience.

Ali*, an 8-year-old unaccompanied minor, was rescued by the Ocean Viking teams from an overcrowded rubber boat in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region on March 14, 2024, along with 87 other people.

Line’s family left Lebanon, making a perilous journey through Egypt and Libya, before taking the sea in the hope to reach Europe.

Ibrahima was one of the 25 survivors rescued on the 13th of March after spending seven days at sea. Around 60 people on his boat perished during the journey.