The Spanish charity Salvamento Maritimo Humanitario (Humanitarian Maritime Rescue, known as SMH) has postponed its next migrant rescue mission in the central Mediterranean until next year because of soaring fuel costs. The decision underscores the humanitarian impact of rising energy prices on sea rescue operations.
SMH said on Wednesday that fuel prices doubling had forced it to move its operations to waters around Valencia in southeastern Spain. The group, which operates a fishing boat converted into a rescue vessel, has also launched a crowd-funding campaign to cover the increased costs.
The central Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Italy is one of the world's deadliest migration routes. Many people attempt the sea journey in overloaded, unseaworthy boats departing from the Libyan coast, the main transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), migrant sea crossings have fallen sharply since the start of this year. The agency says about 60,000 migrants and refugees reached Europe by sea in 2026, down 39 percent from roughly 98,000 in the same period last year. Even so, at least 2,292 people have died or gone missing trying to cross the sea this year.
Spanish NGO Open Arms has also said it has scaled back its central Mediterranean missions in recent years, partly because of higher fuel costs and Italy's policy of assigning docking ports for rescue ships in the north of the country. Ships run by Spanish NGOs often have to sail for two to three days to reach their operating area, driving up costs and reducing the time available for search and rescue work.
Italy's right-wing, anti-immigration government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argues that humanitarian rescue efforts encourage migrants to make the sea crossing.
