Stories of survivors

Aisha*, 39, comes from Douala, Cameroon. A women’s rights activist, she had to flee her country after being arrested and tortured for denouncing violence against women in the war-torn English-speaking regions. Her exile took her to Russia before she tried to rebuild her life in Libya.

Shararah* is a 25-year-old Muay Thai fighter from Afghanistan. She was rescued with 128 other survivors in a complex rescue operation in the Ionian Sea, close to the Italian coast, on December 15th, 2024. The survivors told our team that they had been at sea for nearly six days, departing from Izmir, Turkey between December 8th and 9th.

Suad, 23, a Syrian refugee, was rescued by the Ocean Viking after a perilous journey from Libya. She shares her story of survival, longing for reunion with her husband in Germany, and hope for a peaceful future.

Asmaan* and Moska*, sisters from Afghanistan, fled Taliban persecution and unimaginable hardships, including the premature birth of baby Arman. Rescued by the Ocean Viking on December 15, 2024, they now dream of safety and a future in Europe. Read their powerful story of survival and hope.

Juba, 20, and Hassama, 13, are brothers who were rescued on April 7th, 2024, by the Ocean Viking teams on board a wooden boat in the Libyan search and rescue region. Originally from the Delta Valley in Egypt, they shared the difficult living conditions and lack of prospect for the future in Egypt that led them to leave for Libya, risking their lives in the attempt to cross the Mediterranean.

Amani* is 23 years old and comes from Sudan. He was rescued on the 6th of November 2024 from a wooden boat in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region.

He was among 140 people on a double decker boat which was heavily overcrowded and listing dangerously when the team of the Ocean Viking arrived on scene.