People are dying every day in the Central Mediterranean – over the last 10 years, an average of 10 people per day, including one child. Europe’s response: detaining rescue ships, defaming NGOs and obstructing our life-saving work. But we are continuing our work – with a second ship, we are sending a clear signal against Europe’s closed-door policy and for more solidarity and humanity.
Twice as much humanity
Why does the civil fleet need another ship?
Expanding rescue capacity
In the Central Mediterranean, more people drowned in the first quarter of 2026 than in the corresponding period of any other year since 2014. There is a lack of rescue capacity, particularly as rescue vessels are repeatedly detained by the Italian authorities and sent to ports that are far away after carrying out rescues. Additional vessels are urgently needed.
Responding flexibly to changing migration routes
Whilst the migration route from Tunisia was suddenly heavily used in 2023, three years later this route is no longer viable for people on the move. With two ships, SOS Humanity can respond to such changes on short notice and provide support where it is most urgently needed. A sailing ship offers particular flexibility in this regard.
Short journeys for a sailing vessel
A motor-sailing ship such as Humanity 2 is not only flexible in operation but also covers short distances: experience shows that disembarkation takes place in Lampedusa, as longer voyages are not possible with survivors on board. As a sailing vessel, Humanity 2 is made for short, flexible missions, not for transit voyages lasting several days with large numbers of people on board.
Solidarity rather than isolation
While the EU and its Member States are shifting the responsibility for search and rescue in the Central Mediterranean to third countries, civil society is taking action. The sailing ship Humanity 2 is sending a powerful message of humanity – precisely where Europe is failing.
Humanity 2 is a statement against Europe's closed-door policy and for solidarity with people on the move.
Humanity 2 stands for the right to live and against the normalisation of violence and death at our external borders.
With the sailing ship Humanity 2, we will save lives and document human rights violations off the coast of Tunisia.
