Camille Martin / SOS MEDITERRANEE
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.
I come from Darfur, in Sudan. At the moment, the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, are attacking people in my region.
They force people from our region to join their militia, then they force you to kill people. If you don’t join them, they kill you. They rape women and destroy villages. If I fled to other parts of the country, people would think I am part of this group because of my accent, so I am in danger there too.
I decided to leave the country for my safety. On my way to Libya, I was left 20km from the border, I crossed at night, and once in the other side, I hid in a farm until the morning. I saw the bowl where there was water for the chicken, and I had to drink it to continue through the desert’s burning sun. Eventually, I made my way to the coast, and with the financial help of my family, I was able to attempt the crossing of the Mediterranean.
Amani has 9 siblings. He has worked as a gold miner, and holds a diploma in Information Technology, as well as certificates of seafarer from the time he lived in Port Sudan.
He spent his time onboard reading and wishes to continue his education in Europe.
Photos of Amani: By Camille Martin Juan & Alisha Vaya
We change the name of the survivor to protect his identity.
