A boat carrying people on the move, mostly from Sudan, fell into distress in the Mediterranean Sea. After five days at sea without food or water, a civil rescue vessel finally recovered the boat amid stormy weather. Thirty-nine people were ultimately brought to safety. At least two died, and up to seven others remain missing.
On the afternoon of October 3, the crew of Humanity 1, the rescue ship operated by the German NGO SOS Humanity, spotted the boat about 60 nautical miles south of Lampedusa. The rescue operation proved extremely difficult: waves up to three meters high repeatedly pushed the unseaworthy rubber boat away, making it nearly impossible for rescuers to approach. Terrified by the rough seas, some of the visibly exhausted passengers panicked. At least one man went overboard, and the rescue team was unable to save him.
The remaining 41 people—including two women, a toddler, and eight unaccompanied minors—were successfully rescued. Most came from Sudan, especially from Darfur, as well as from Khartoum and Madani. Others originated from countries such as Gambia, Mali, and Eritrea, where poverty, militarization, and violent conflict define daily life.
We have seen a strong increase in Sudanese in our rescues, particularly over the past four months.
Zeina Nasser, cultural mediator aboard Humanity 1
The survivors, who had fled or been displaced from their home countries, reportedly began their sea voyage on September 29 from Zuwara, a coastal city in northwestern Libya known for departures along the central Mediterranean route toward Italy. According to the IOM, more than 25,500 people have died or gone missing on this route over the past decade, making it the world’s deadliest migration corridor. The EU-funded Libyan coast guard—a network of state and non-state armed groups—regularly intercepts boats, violently detaining and deporting migrants, as numerous reports have shown.
“We have seen a strong increase in Sudanese among our rescues, particularly in the past four months,” says Zeina Nasser, cultural mediator onboard Humanity 1. “In the last two months alone, more people have fled Sudan across the Mediterranean than in the entire first half of the year,” confirms Lukas Kaldenhoff, part of the ship’s head-of-mission team. This trend is mirrored in recent tragedies: in early September, two boats carrying Sudanese refugees sank off Tobruk in eastern Libya, leaving at least 111 dead.
Among those rescued on October 3, some had fled the latest escalations between SAF and RSF in Darfur, particularly in Nyala and El-Fasher, and headed straight to the coast to attempt the crossing. Others had spent longer in Libya but were forced to risk the sea after rising violence against migrants, particularly Black Africans. Fearful after recent raids and attacks, one mother rescued with her two-year-old son explained that her family had wanted to escape Libya immediately. Yet with limited financial resources, she was forced to leave her husband and three-year-old daughter behind, hoping they would soon follow.
One more day and we would all have died!
survivor from Nyala, Darfur
According to survivors, the group had nearly reached the Italian island of Lampedusa when their fuel ran out, and the motor stopped. Several people, they said, jumped into the water, attempting to swim to shore for help as the boat drifted back into the open sea. No reports, however, confirmed migrants reaching Lampedusa that day. Other survivors added that more people had fallen overboard during the journey.
The rescued were in dire condition. In addition to severe skin burns from prolonged exposure to leaking fuel mixing with seawater, they suffered from hypothermia and extreme dehydration. A young man from Nyala thanked God for his survival: “One more day and we would all have died.”
Several collapsed immediately after being brought on board. A medical evacuation attempt by the Italian coast guard failed, as heavy waves prevented contact between the ships. A helicopter evacuation from Malta also had to be aborted due to worsening weather conditions. At one point, the helicopter cable became entangled in the ship’s mast—an incident that could have turned fatal had a Humanity 1 crew member did not climb the mast and quickly disentangled it.
Meanwhile, the ship’s medical team worked tirelessly to stabilize patients. Two men, however, were so weak that all interventions failed. After hours of attempted resuscitation, the doctor had to declare both dead.
Late at night, a second evacuation attempt by the Italian coast guard succeeded. Five people were transported to Lampedusa for urgent treatment. Others in serious condition collapsed again but were stabilized on the rescue ship.
On October 5, less than 48 hours after the rescue, all survivors disembarked in the Sicilian town of Porto Empedocle. They were transferred to a local reception facility, where they are undergoing registration procedures.
