An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone has been rescued after surviving three harrowing days at sea, clinging to inner tubes amidst stormy weather in the Mediterranean.
The young migrant was saved by a rescue team from the non-governmental organization Compass Collective, who were responding to another emergency when they heard her cries for help.
According to the rescuers, the girl had departed from Sfax, Tunisia, with 44 others on a journey toward Europe. Tragically, their boat sank during the voyage, and all the other migrants are presumed dead.
Katja Tempel, a spokeswoman for Compass Collective, described the dramatic rescue. She said the girl was found floating at around 03:20 (02:20 GMT) on Wednesday, supported by a life jacket and two tyre inner tubes. The child recounted how their metal boat had capsized within seconds after encountering 3.5-meter-high waves and violent storms. Initially, she managed to stay with two others in the water but eventually lost contact with them.
The girl was transferred to Italian authorities on the island of Lampedusa, where she was able to walk and communicate after her ordeal.
This rescue highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of better opportunities.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that over 30,000 migrants have died or remain missing during such crossings in the last decade.
Italy continues to receive the highest number of migrants, with more than 63,000 arrivals recorded this year alone, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). However, stricter immigration policies under Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have led to a decrease in arrivals compared to previous years.
The case of the young Sierra Leonean survivor is a sobering reminder of the risks endured by many migrants, particularly children, in their quest for safety and a better future.
