On 1 January 2023, following a request from the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, our team rescued 41 people in distress in international waters off Libya. The life-saving operation was carried out in total darkness and in difficult conditions, as the boat capsized and people were recovered from the water. Despite the traumatic experience, the 41 survivors, including two women, safely embarked aboard Geo Barents and have been cared for by the MSF team.
 
On the same night, our team also received a transshipment of another 44 people from a merchant vessel and got assigned Taranto, south of Italy as a place of safety to disembark the 85 survivors aboard Geo Barents. To reach Taranto, the Geo Barents with the 85 survivors need to navigate for two full days.