Illustration Image
Jérémie Lusseau / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Stories of survivors

SOS MEDITERRANEE has rescued more than 42,700 people since 2016. 

From an eight-year-old who walked alone from Mali to a Lebanese family with three young children, these are the stories of those rescued. Their harrowing and heartbreaking tales shed a light on the dire humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean.  

Video
Reset
Illustration Image
Ville Maali / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Testimony

Ashanti*

Ashanti, comes from Ghana, where he explains that finding work is impossible due to corruption, paid through bribes or by consenting to sexual favours. A situation that forces the youth to work in illegal mining or to leave the country to provide for their families. In Libya, he was exploited and witnessed people die under the mistreatment of militia.
read the testimony
Illustration Image
Marie Tihon / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Testimony

Tanvir

Back in Bangladesh, Tanvir* got manipulated by a man into going to Libya for work. Once there, he worked for two years without ever receiving a salary. At first, taking the sea to leave was not an option as he knew he could lose his life. But eventually, without any livelihood, he couldn’t not see another option.
read the testimony
Illustration Image
Marie Tihon / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Testimony

Alif

Alif* fled Bangladesh at 17 after a relative threatened his life over religion and inheritance. 
read the testimony
Ville Maali / SOS MEDITERRANEE
Ville Maali / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Testimony

Rashid

Rashid, fled war-torned Sudan. He escaped abuse in Libya on a small rubber boat, drifting for two days among high waves. His phone light likely made the difference between life and death for 36 people.
read the testimony
Ville Maali / SOS MEDITERRANEE
Ville Maali / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Testimony

Samuel, Patience & Praise

Samuel had to leave Nigeria when his life was threatened by Nigerian soldiers who burned his house and killed his parents. With his wife Patience, they were lured through the desert, into Libya. After being separated and exploited, they found eachother again. Patience got pregnant, but the blatant racism left her no option than to deliver her baby on her own.
read the testimony
Marie Tihon / SOS MEDITERRANEE
Marie Tihon / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Testimony

Magan

Magan left Somalia after his father and uncle got killed by Al Shabab, an Islamic militant group. 
He traveled alone through  the desert, cities, and the sea before being rescued from a rubber boat, adrift with no more water or food. 
He explained he is only looking to find peace.
read the testimony

Together we save lives.

Join our newsletter community today to stay updated on stories, our missions, and ways you can support our efforts.

Read the Privacy policy

Follow-us!

On X/Twitter
On Instagram
On Youtube