An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone was rescued after surviving three days alone at sea following a deadly shipwreck near the Italian island of Lampedusa, a rescue charity reported Wednesday (December 11, 2024). She was the only person to survive the tragic incident.
The German rescue group CompassCollective said their team was on the way to another emergency when they heard cries for help in the dark. Around 3 a.m. local time, they found the girl floating in the water. She was wearing a life jacket and holding onto two tire tubes to stay afloat. The crew quickly brought her to safety.
Shipwreck in the Mediterranean
The girl told rescuers she had departed from Sfax, a city in Tunisia, on a boat carrying 45 people. The boat sank during a storm in the Mediterranean Sea. She was the only one who survived.
After her rescue, the team took her to Lampedusa. The island, located closer to North Africa than mainland Italy, is a frequent landing point for migrants making dangerous sea journeys.
Medical care and support
Upon arrival, the girl received immediate medical attention. She was then taken to a migrant center where Italian Red Cross staff and volunteers cared for her. The Red Cross confirmed that she was safe and receiving support.
Nicola Dell’Arciprete, head of UNICEF in Italy, expressed his concern during the holiday season. “In this festive period, in which the majority of us are lucky to be with their loved ones, my thoughts go out to the girl from Sierra Leone,” he said.
Dangerous migration route
The tragic incident highlights the risks faced by migrants crossing the Central Mediterranean. The sea route between Tunisia, Libya, Italy, and Malta is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
Since 2014, more than 24,300 people have died or disappeared on this route, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Many migrants make the perilous journey in overcrowded and unsafe boats, hoping for a better life in Europe. Storms, rough seas, and a lack of proper rescue operations make the trip even more deadly.
Calls for action
The charity group Mediterranea expressed concern that three more migrant boats may have disappeared in recent weeks along the same route between Tunisia and Italy. They urged authorities to act quickly and search for possible survivors. “Lives in danger at sea cannot be abandoned,” said Luca Casarini from Mediterranea.
The Italian government claims its strict immigration policies are reducing sea arrivals. So far in 2024, around 64,000 migrants have landed in Italy. This is a sharp drop compared to over 153,000 arrivals during the same period in 2023.
However, human rights groups and charities continue to call for stronger rescue efforts. They warn that without more search-and-rescue operations, the number of migrant deaths may continue to rise.