Since 2014, the Central Mediterranean has become the world’s deadliest migratory route. Over27,600 lives have been lost since then. In this document, the IFRC and SOS Mediterranee detail what they are doing in partnership to save lives of people shipwrecked while attempting to make the perilous central Mediterranean crossing. The document explains the live-saving impact of their fully equipped rescue ship and the Humanitarian Service Point at sea it offers to migrants in distress.

Migration and refugee flows into Europe from sub-Saharan and North Africa and the Middle East are among the most hazardous in the world, signalling acute humanitarian needs for many people on the move. The Central Mediterranean route from North Africa (primarily Libya, but also Tunisia and Algeria) to Italy continues to be one of the most active and dangerous routes for people crossing to Europe by sea. Our Humanitarian Service Point at Sea (HSP@Sea) Operation is part of the IFRC's3-year route-based migration plan of action, launched in August 2021, and has a funding requirement of 2,4000,000 CHF per year. This plan of action spans land and maritime routes in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe and aims to provide a principled, locally adapted, needs-based response to people on the move at different stages of their journeys.