CS 20585
13205 Marseille Cedex 01
France
- Human rights
SOS MEDITERRANEE is a European, maritime-humanitarian organisation for the rescue of life in the Mediterranean. It was founded by European citizens who charter and operate a rescue vessel, the Ocean Viking, in order to save people in distress in the Central Mediterranean. A day at sea costs 14,000 €. Our four headquarters are located in Berlin (Germany), Marseilles (France), Milan (Italy) and Geneva (Switzerland). It represents less than 50 members of staff employed and about 650 volunteers. SOS MEDITERRANEE is a non-profit association and is financed up to 90% by private funds. The IFRC (International Federation of the Red Cross) acts as a medical and financial partner : they equip the medical team on board.
The teams are focused on three missions: - saving lives at sea by search and rescue operations of vessels in distress ; - protecting the rescued people with health emergency care provided on board, psychological assistance, escort to a safe place where their lives are no longer threatened, and their elementary needs can be met ; - testifying of realities and faces of migration in order to raise the awareness of public opinion, institutions and governments regarding the consequences of these tragedies happening at the doorstep of Europe, therefore urging European countries to provide appropriate solutions.
SOS MEDITERRANEE provides aid to people in distress at sea, based on the principles of respect for humans and their dignity, with no discrimination in concern with their nationality or origin, their social belonging, religious or political beliefs or ethnic identity. On board, the team's mission is to protect survivors and provide them with healthcar. We also act to testify about the reality of the situation in the Central Mediterranean by raising public awareness about this issue. First with the Aquarius, then wih the Ocean Viking, the search and rescue teams of SOS MEDITERRANEE have been able to rescue and treat more than 34,000 people since the start of operations in February 2016. A quarter of these survivors were under 18, more than 80% of whom were unaccompanied. All our operations are conducted in the strictest compliance with international maritime Law and in permanent liaison with the authorities competent in sea rescue coordination.
