By Ebi Kesiena
The humanitarian vessel Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Méditerranée, rescued 112 migrants in two separate operations between Saturday, 22 February, and Sunday, 25 February, the Marseille-based NGO reports.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 129 people attempting to reach Europe have either perished or gone missing in the Mediterranean since the start of 2025. In 2024, the toll reached 2,333, with most incidents occurring in the central Mediterranean, one of the world’s most perilous migration routes.
During the first rescue carried out overnight from Saturday to Sunday, the crew assisted a fibreglass boat carrying 25 people, including three women, one of whom was pregnant. A second operation on Sunday morning saved 87 individuals aboard a wooden vessel, conducted in coordination with Italian authorities.
The rescued migrants, primarily from Bangladesh, Somalia, and Egypt, have been granted permission to disembark in Livorno, Tuscany, a port more than 1,000 kilometres from the rescue site.
Irregular migration, where individuals travel across borders without proper documentation or authorisation, has become a pressing global issue, particularly in regions like Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Driven by poverty, conflict, political instability, and the hope for better economic opportunities, thousands embark on perilous journeys each year, often risking their lives in search of a better future.
The Mediterranean route remains one of the deadliest migration corridors, with thousands drowning annually in their desperate attempt to reach Europe.
Heritage Times HT continues to discourage irregular migration and raise awareness about its risks, educating on safer, legal migration alternatives while addressing the root causes that push people to embark on such treacherous journeys.
