Mediterranean Sea
Every year, thousands of people fleeing war, persecution and poverty at home attempt the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean. Countless lives are lost on the way.
The closure of safe and legal options for people to reach Europe pushes them further into migrant smuggling networks. In Libya, the detention of migrants and refugees is a thriving business of kidnapping and extortion.
On December 13, 2024, MSF was forced to cease operations on its search and rescue vessel, the Geo Barents, which had been operational since 2021. Italian laws and policies made it impossible to continue this operational model. MSF has initiated a process to evaluate the best operational model in this challenging environment and is committed to resuming search and rescue activities.
MSF reaffirms its firm commitment to people on the move, particularly those undertaking the dangerous journey across the Central Mediterranean, a route where more than 31,000 people have died or gone missing since 2014.
This orchestrated withdrawal of search and rescue vessels from the Central Mediterranean deprives survivors fleeing the horrific violence in Libya of lifesaving assistance. This is the conclusion of an advocacy report published by MSF in June 2025. Entitled "Deadly Manoeuvres: Obstruction and Violence in the Central Mediterranean," the report draws on operational and medical data, as well as survivor testimonies collected by MSF teams aboard the Geo Barents in 2023 and 2024.
MSF also provides assistance to people held in Libyan detention centers and those arriving in Europe.
