Spanish NGO halts Mediterranean rescue operations, citing fuel prices

SMH says it can no longer afford search-and-rescue work in one of the world’ss most dangerous migration routes.

Migrants wait to be rescued off the coast of Italy, June 10, 2026 [File: Chris McGrath/Getty Images]

A Spanish charity has postponed its next migrant rescue mission in the Central Mediterranean until next year due to rising fuel costs, underscoring the humanitarian impact of rising energy prices.

Salvamento Maritimo Humanitario (Humanitarian Maritime Rescue, or SMH) said on Wednesday that the doubling of fuel prices forced it to shift its activities to waters around Valencia, southeastern Spain.

list 1 of 4 Forty-two migrants presumed dead after shipwreck near Libya: UN

list 2 of 4 ‘Journey of hell’: Migrants in Libya endure torture, rape, forced labour

list 3 of 4 Mediterranean migrant deaths mounting towards 1,000 in 2026: UN

list 4 of 4 Deadly journeys: Refugees, migrants risk everything to reach Europe

The group, which operates a fishing vessel converted into a rescue ship, also launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the extra costs.

The Central Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Italy is one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.

Many of those attempt the crossing on overcrowded, unsuitable boats from Libya’s coast, which has been a main transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

A report released by the International Office for Migration said migrant sea crossings have dropped sharply since January this year.

The agency said about 60,000 migrants and refugees reached Europe by boat so far in 2026, down 39 percent from roughly 98,000 over the same period last year.

Despite the drop, at least 2,292 died or went missing attempting the crossing this year.

Spanish NGO Open Arms has said it scaled back its Central Mediterranean missions in recent years, also due to rising fuel costs as well as Italy’s policy of assigning rescue vessels ports in Northern Italy.

NGO ships from Spain typically sail for two to three days to reach their operating area, increasing costs and reducing time available for search-and-rescue work.

The Italian prime minister’s right-wing, anti-immigration government says humanitarian rescue attempts encourage migrants to make the crossing.

《悉尼先驱晨报》表示，它已无力继续在世界上最危险的移民路线之一上开展搜救工作。

2026年6月10日，移民在意大利海岸等待救援。[图片：Chris McGrath/Getty Images]

由于燃料成本上涨，一家西班牙慈善机构已将原定于明年在地中海中部开展的下一次移民救援行动推迟，这凸显了能源价格上涨对人道主义的影响。

人道主义海上救援组织（Salvamento Maritimo Humanitario，简称 SMH）周三表示，燃油价格翻倍迫使其将救援活动转移到西班牙东南部瓦伦西亚附近的水域。

名单1/4：联合国称，42名移民在利比亚附近海域沉船事故中被推定死亡。

列表 2/4 “地狱之旅”：利比亚的移民遭受酷刑、强奸和强迫劳动

联合国报告称，到2026年，地中海移民死亡人数将达到1000人左右（共4人）。

列表 4（共 4 条）致命旅程：难民和移民冒着生命危险抵达欧洲

该组织运营着一艘由渔船改装而成的救援船，并发起了一项众筹活动来支付额外的费用。

从北非到意大利的中地中海穿越路线是世界上最危险的移民路线之一。

许多人试图乘坐拥挤不堪、不合适的船只从利比亚海岸偷渡，利比亚海岸一直是逃离非洲和中东战争和贫困的移民的主要中转站。

国际移民组织发布的一份报告称，自今年1月以来，移民海上偷渡人数急剧下降。

该机构表示，截至2026年，约有6万名移民和难民乘船抵达欧洲，比去年同期约9.8万人减少了39%。

尽管人数有所下降，但今年仍有至少 2292 人在试图穿越海峡时死亡或失踪。

西班牙非政府组织“敞开双臂”（Open Arms）表示，近年来，由于燃料成本上涨以及意大利将救援船只的港口指定在意大利北部，该组织缩减了其在地中海中部的任务规模。

来自西班牙的非政府组织船只通常需要航行两到三天才能到达其作业区域，这增加了成本并减少了可用于搜救工作的时间。

意大利总理领导的右翼反移民政府表示，人道主义救援行动会鼓励移民偷渡。