Bridging 2023–2024 on the central Mediterranean—the world’s deadliest migration route—this project traces rescues from first sighting to first steps ashore. It opens on fragile wooden and iron boats drifting between North Africa and Europe, then moves through transfer to RHIBs and the first hour of safety aboard MSF’s Geo Barents. Small, human beats carry the story: hands meeting across gunwales, a mother holding her baby, salt washed from eyes, a brief dance, a prayer, sleep on steel. The wider context is constant: thousands of deaths recorded annually by the UN’s migration agencies, with the central corridor between Libya/Tunisia and Italy/Malta bearing most of the loss. Arrival brings both relief and rules—queues, documentation by authorities, and quiet embraces beside the gangway. Sequenced from sea to shore, the work holds to faces rather than numbers, looking for dignity, tenderness, and resilience in a hard, politicised space.
rew members aboard the Geo Barents — the search-and-rescue ship operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) — distribute life jackets to a group of 61 migrants on a wooden boat during a rescue operation in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea September 28, 2023.
A group of 61 migrants on a wooden boat are rescued by crew from the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders); the MSF vessel stands by as RHIB teams coordinate the transfer in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea September 28, 2023.
A mother holds her baby on a small iron boat during a rescue by the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in international waters between Tunisia and Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean Sea July 20, 2024.
MSF rescuers on a RHIB assist migrants transferring off a small iron boat during operations by the Geo Barents in international waters between Tunisia and Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean Sea July 20, 2024.
Migrants queue for a meal on the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) as it makes its way to Italy after the rescue of 61 migrants on a wooden boat in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea, September 29, 2023.
A migrant washes and splashes water over his face at a hand-washing station on the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a routine moment of dignity and relief, after the rescue of 49 migrants on a rubber boat in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea July 19, 2024.
Inflatable toy swim vests — not proper life jackets — worn by child migrants are seen on the deck of the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), after the rescue of 49 migrants on a rubber boat in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea July 19, 2024.
Migrants sleep shoulder-to-shoulder on the deck of the Geo Barents; a man is seen reflected in a mirror amid the crowded temporary shelter as the ship heads north after rescuing 226 migrants during three rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea July 21, 2024.
Muslim migrants pray together on the deck of the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), marking the end of the day during a long transit as it makes its way to Italy after the rescue of 61 migrants on a wooden boat in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea, September 30, 2023.
Migrants dance on the deck of the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a brief celebration of safety and solidarity, as it makes its way to Italy after the rescue of 61 migrants on a wooden boat in international waters off the coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea, September 29, 2023.
Silhouetted migrants wait on the lower stern deck to disembark from the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), after days at sea, in Livorno port, Italy July 23, 2024.
A migrant disembarks the Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders); below, a crew member embraces another departing survivor — a final exchange before processing by authorities on shore in Livorno port, Italy July 23, 2024.