She thought she was going to die. For three days, an 11-year-old girl named Mariama from Sierra Leone clung to life, alone on the vast Mediterranean Sea after a tragic shipwreck. It was a journey many undertake in hopes of a new and better life, but for Mariama, it was a struggle for survival against impossible odds.
In December 2024, Mariama, along with 45 other hopeful souls, departed from Sfax, Tunisia. They boarded a metal boat, their hearts filled with dreams of reaching European shores. The sea, however, had other plans. A fierce storm hit, turning their voyage into a nightmare. The boat capsized, and Mariama found herself alone in a deadly expanse of water.
For three agonizing days, she battled hunger, thirst, and the relentless waves. Her only company was a makeshift raft crafted from inner tubes and a life jacket, which she clung to desperately as the sea thrashed about her. She floated under the scorching sun by day and shivered in the cool night air, her hope dwindling with each passing hour.
On the third day, the German charity rescue vessel Trotamar III was in the area. The crew, part of the humanitarian organization CompassCollective, were mindful in their search when they heard faint cries over the roar of their engines.
‘It was like hearing a tiny voice in a massive storm, ‘
one crew member recounted. 3 a.m. marked the time they finally connected with those cries, pulling Mariama aboard and into safety.
Exhausted but alive, she was brought to Lampedusa, an island that often serves as the first European landing point for migrants crossing the perilous Mediterranean. Her rescue is not only a testament to human resilience but also to the vigilance and compassion of organizations like CompassCollective.
According to international organizations, the central Mediterranean route is one of the deadliest migration paths, with thousands perishing each year. Mariama’s story stands as a glaring reminder of the risks faced by those seeking a better life. It’s a narrative of hope against despair, a beacon for others still caught in the struggle for survival.
Her survival instigates a deep reflection on the dire conditions driving such perilous journeys and the desperate need for humanitarian aid and policy reform. As this young girl continues her path to recovery, she carries with her a story of courage and a call to collective action. Her story asks of us: What should be done to prevent such tragedies, and how can we help those besieged by circumstances beyond their control?
The sea tried its hardest to claim her, but Mariama’s will to live was stronger. And today, she lives not just as a survivor, but as a symbol of unyielding hope.
