In yet another grim reminder of the deadly risks migrants face, a rescue charity has confirmed that at least three people—two of them children aged just 3 and 4—have died during a treacherous sea journey from Libya to Italy. The German NGO RESQSHIP reported that it rescued 59 survivors on Saturday from a rubber dinghy drifting aimlessly in the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The boat had been spotted earlier by a Frontex surveillance plane, part of the EU’s border monitoring effort. By the time the RESQSHIP crew reached the distressed vessel at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time, it was already too late to save some of the passengers.
“Two bodies of infants aged 3 and 4 were handed over to us,” said Rania, a paramedic aboard the NGO vessel, in a sorrowful statement. “They had likely died the previous day—most probably from dehydration.”
Tragically, a man found unconscious on the boat could not be revived despite urgent medical efforts and was declared dead shortly after. Survivors also reported that another migrant had drowned the day before after falling overboard—his body has not yet been recovered.
The migrants had set out from Zawiya, a coastal town in western Libya, on Wednesday. However, just one day into the voyage, the engine failed. With no power, the boat was left adrift under the harsh Mediterranean sun, leaving its passengers exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Most of the survivors endured severe chemical burns caused by prolonged exposure to a mix of saltwater and fuel. Two children and four adults in critical condition were transferred immediately to the Italian coast guard for faster medical evacuation to shore.
Lampedusa, a small Italian island between Tunisia and Sicily, has long served as a primary landing point for migrants attempting to reach Europe via one of the world’s most dangerous maritime routes.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly 25,000 people have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean since 2014. This year alone, 378 lives have already been lost.
This heartbreaking event adds to the growing pressure on European nations and humanitarian groups to address the ongoing migrant crisis with greater urgency and compassion. It also serves as a painful reminder that behind every statistic is a human story—of hope, hardship, and too often, heartbreak.
