Mission & Vision

SOS MEDITERRANEE France, an international humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives at sea, was founded by a collective of citizens in 2015, in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Central Mediterranean, known as the world’s most perilous migration route, with countless lives lost each year due to dangerous crossings and harsh conditions.

Their mission is clear and urgent: conducting vital search and rescue operations at sea to provide immediate support and relief to those in distress, ensuring their safety and protection until they are disembarked in a place of safety. SOS MEDITERRANEE is also dedicated to bearing witness to these rescues and amplifying the stories of survivors, while advocating for the recognition and safeguarding of humanitarian action at sea.

Actions Led

SOS MEDITERRANEE operates primarily through its search and rescue ship, the Ocean Viking, equipped to respond swiftly to distress calls, providing rescued individuals with immediate assistance, medical aid and ensuring their protection until reaching a place of safety.

Since 2016, SOS MEDITERRANEE has rescued over 39,000 people in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, from over 40 different countries, including 25% children, many of them traveling alone.

SOS MEDITERRANEE advocates on behalf of all people in distress at sea, irrespective of nationality, country of origin, social belonging, religious belief, political stance, or ethnic affiliation, and ensures that every individual receives the care and protection they deserve. All operations strictly adhere to international maritime and humanitarian law, driven by the legal obligation to assist those in distress at sea, and to disembark them in a place of safety, where their rights are ensured, their needs can be met and where their lives are no longer under threat.

Projects that U.S. Donors Can Support

With their contributions, U.S. donors can help fund search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as research, awareness raising and educational activities related to sea rescue, and professional trainings in sea rescue.

Learn more through our blog article published on January 15, 2024.

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