As a non-governmental search and rescue organisation, we strive for a world in which the human rights of all are respected. SOS Humanity stands for humanity at sea and on land. We are committed to ensuring that no person drowns while fleeing at sea and that everyone is treated with dignity.
Nine years of rescuing, protecting and testifying
Founded 2015 in Berlin as SOS Mediterranee Germany we have been operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea since 2016. During this time, as part of the european SOS Mediterranee network, we have rescued 34,631 children, women and men from drowning and have brought them to a place of safety. As part of the European network, we operated two rescue ships: first the Aquarius until the end of 2018 and later on the Ocean Viking from 2019 to the end of 2021.
Our search and rescue ship
As of January 1st, 2022, we continue our work as SOS Humanity – independent from the previous european network – and sent our own ship to the Mediterranean Sea in August 2022.
With our rescue ship Humanity 1 we want to save even more people. Additionally, we also seek to highlight the consequences of the EU’s inhumane policy of closed borders.
Our rescue ship and our work at sea and on land are financed by donations from civil society. Our name SOS Humanity is a compass, a reminder and a call to action: saving lives is a duty – also in the Mediterranean!
The people behind SOS Humanity
Founded by citizens in 2015 in response to the deaths in the Mediterranean and the failure of the European Union to prevent these deaths, SOS Humanity reflects different personal and professional backgrounds. SOS Humanity lives from all the people opposing the dying in the Mediterranean: civil society, members, board members, the teams ashore and at sea, volunteers and donors.
The ordinary members of SOS Humanity determine the principles of our life-saving work and elect the board. The honorary board manages the association in accordance with our statutes and the resolutions of the general meeting.
Saving lives together
The team at the office in Berlin implements the goals of SOS Humanity. The operational department ensures the implementation of the missions through crewing, logistics and ongoing ship operations. The crew on board rescues, accompanies the rescued on board and collects their stories.
The members of the eight volunteer groups in Germany multiply our work and are our anchor in civil society. In direct interaction with citizens, they create much-needed awareness for the situation in the Mediterranean.
Our goals
We save lives
With our rescue ship we rescue people fleeing from distress in the Central Mediterranean Sea since August 2022.
We protect and assist
We provide the rescued people on board with clothing and food, as well as medical and psychological care. Furthermore, we identify special protection needs and communicate them to the respective agencies on land.
We testify
We document the stories of survivors and release information on abuses such as human rights violations at Europe’s external borders.
We create change
We inform the public about the inhumane consequences of European migration policies. On a political level we advocate for the rights of people fleeing across the sea.
