SOS MEDITERRANEE / Jérémie Lusseau
June 20 is World Refugee Day and, in some countries such as the UK, June 16th to 22nd is International Refugee Week. This is a recognition of the unimaginable hardships faced by refugees and a celebration of their strength, resilience, and hope for the future. Our crew has witnessed firsthand the suffering of refugees and migrants. Their migratory journeys are often years long; by the time people are rescued by our ship, the Ocean Viking, they have often endured violence, human trafficking, imprisonment, slavery, and sexual violence. No one leaves home unless staying is more dangerous than the journey ahead. These are reasons many people are being forced to flee:
A refugee is a person who has fled their own country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution there. The risks to their safety and life were so great that they felt they had no choice but to leave and seek safety outside their country because their own government cannot or will not protect them from those dangers. Refugees have a right to international protection. – Amnesty International
Political Instability
Many refugees leave their homes due to wars, uprisings, and governmental unrest that have upended their lives. Fleeing violence and destruction, they search for respite and a place of safety.
Many survivors saved by the Ocean Viking are fleeing Syria, South Sudan, and Cameroon, where war and political turmoil have made it impossible to live.
Camille Martin / SOS MEDITERRANEE
At only 17, 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.
Climate Change
Climate changehas caused some of the most extreme storms, flooding, heatwaves, and droughts the world has ever seen. Climate change has been devastating for those who live in vulnerable places or depend on agriculture to live, and has forced them to leave.
SOS MEDITERRANEE / Stefano Belacchi
Arham was rescued by the Ocean Viking on March 9, 2025. Like more than 70% of the population of Ethiopia, his family depends on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. The country is currently experiencing the worst drought in 40 years, and many rural households find it harder to survive on farming alone.
(International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2025)1.
Persecution and Human Rights Abuses
Many people are forced to flee persecution based on their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Across the world, vulnerable groups are deprived of basic human rights. The Ocean Viking often rescues people fleeing systemic violence against women and minorities.
SOS MEDITERRANEE / Max Cavallari
Aisha*, 39, is from Douala, Cameroon. A women’s rights activist, she had to flee her country after being arrested and tortured for denouncing violence against women in the war-torn country. Her exile took her to Russia before she tried to rebuild her life in Libya.
For Their Children
The difficult circumstances listed above are often interrelated. Natural disasters, extreme poverty, and famine, mixed with political chao,s worsens violence towards vulnerable groups.
Many families chose to leave their homes in search of a real future for their children.
Bassem and Hana* were rescued with their four-year-old daughter during a night-time operation. They both fled Syria to escape from violence and hunger and give their daughter a future.
“Our dream is to find education for our daughter. We want her to grow up safe and to give her a good life. We no longer want to think about violence or hunger. ”
*All names have been changed to protect privacy.
Every day, people make the difficult decision to leave their homes and risk their lives in search of safety, freedom, and relief from persecution.
We emphasize the courage and resilience of refugees and migrants who endure violence and untold dangers in search of a real future.
