An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone was discovered floating in the Mediterranean Sea off Italy’s Lampedusa, believed to be the sole survivor of a shipwrecked migrant boat that had set sail from the port of Sfax in Tunisia. The girl was rescued by a German-flagged sailboat named Trotamar III, operated by the humanitarian group Compass Collective. She was found without food or water and was suffering from hypothermia.
The sailboat's captain recounted the fortunate moment when they heard the girl's voice amidst the running engines, leading to her rescue. The girl had been adrift for three days, using innertubes and a lifejacket after departing on a metal boat with around 45 others. She mentioned being in contact with two individuals until two days before her rescue, leaving their fate unknown.
Following a storm with strong winds and high waves, the Totamar III crew has been actively involved in rescue operations since August 2023, aiding over 230 individuals to date. After saving the girl, the crew distributed life jackets to 53 people on a motorless wooden boat and alerted Italian authorities of their location.
Tragically, the central Mediterranean has seen 1,536 deaths or missing persons presumed dead this year, as per U.N. statistics. Despite a decrease in arrivals compared to the previous year, with 64,234 individuals reaching Italy by Thursday, the dangers of migration persist.
Compass Collective emphasized that the rescued girl symbolizes the ongoing tragedy in the Mediterranean, serving as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by migrants seeking a better life. The organization continues its vital work in assisting those in distress at sea, offering hope and support amidst the challenging circumstances.
