Migrants and rescuers face threats, harassment in Mediterranean, aid group says

A leading aid group, SOS Mediterranee, has warned that migrants crossing the Mediterranean and rescue ships that assist them are facing growing threats and harassment from Libyan groups, according to reports. The organization, which monitors these waters through a network of ships and planes, stated that the central Mediterranean region is becoming increasingly hostile. This hostility, the group claims, is exacerbated by the expansion of European cooperation with Libyan actors aimed at deterring migration.

SOS Mediterranee cited seven instances between June and July where boats affiliated with Libyan actors approached rescue vessels at high speed or followed them for hours, engaging in dangerous chases into international waters. Additionally, the group noted a significant increase in the presence of unidentified speed boats linked to various armed groups in Libya.

These vessels have been observed carrying out violent interceptions, including deliberately ramming boats carrying distressed migrants and performing maneuvers that endangered lives.

Last year, SOS Mediterranee accused the Libyan coast guard of attacking their Ocean Viking rescue ship in international waters, during which over 100 shots were fired, putting both the crew and 87 rescued migrants at risk. The group has initiated legal proceedings in Italy, France, and Germany over this incident, but European and national authorities have remained silent, and those responsible for the attack remain unidentified. SOS Mediterranee has called for a full and independent investigation into such incidents.

The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported this month that the number of deaths or missing persons in the central Mediterranean has surged, increasing by 111% in the first four months of the year, reaching 821 people, while migrant arrivals during the same period fell by 46%, dropping to 8,577.