Get Involved - Volunteer to stop humanitarian violence in Tunisia

Lybians and Tunisians are dying daily from starvation and hunger

It is simply unacceptable to allow thousands of individuals to drown at the shores of Europe. Since 2014, nearly 30,000 people have either lost their lives or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). However, after Italy's Operation Mare Nostrum ended in late 2014, there has been a noticeable absence of search and rescue operations in the area. In response to the growing humanitarian crisis in 2015 and the retreat of European nations from their responsibilities, SOS MEDITERRANEE was established. This European humanitarian civil association was created with the main goal of conducting sea rescue missions. They first chartered the Aquarius in 2016, followed by the Ocean Viking in 2019. Since then, their committed teams have been actively involved in search and rescue efforts in the Mediterranean, driven by a threefold mission: saving lives, protecting survivors, and documenting the crisis and the humanitarian actions taken. Today, we still see significant gaps in the search and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean, from a severe lack of resources to ineffective coordination. Over the past eight years, we have observed a decline in the fundamental principles of maritime and international law in the Mediterranean. The European Union (EU) and some member states have stepped back from their sea rescue obligations and have been financially supporting, training, and equipping the Libyan coastguard. Consequently, the Libyan coastguard has been intercepting individuals in distress at sea and forcibly returning them to Libya, a country that is not safe, exposing those returned to extreme violence and inhumane treatment, as reported by United Nations agencies. We strongly advocate for adherence to international maritime law.

In Tunisia, a boat carrying migrants attempting to reach Italy capsized overnight, resulting in one fatality, according to a security source on Sunday. The makeshift vessel, which was transporting young Tunisians from Zarzis in the south, had been at sea for approximately 21 hours. It overturned near the Tunisian island of Djerba around 3:00 am, prompting fishermen to raise the alarm and the National Guard to respond, as stated by spokesman Houssemeddine Jebabli. One migrant's body was recovered, seven were rescued, and two individuals fled, believed to be the boat's captain and the organizer of the crossing. Although the numbers have decreased, many Tunisians continue to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean in search of work or a better future in Italy. Between January and September, over 4,500 Tunisians arrived illegally in Italy, compared to 6,092 for the entire year of 2017, according to the interior ministry of the EU member state.