As well as being a tourist attraction, Syracuse is also the base for the NGO SOS Humanity. Their rescue vessel, the Humanity 1, returns here briefly after each rotation, following five weeks of patrolling the deadly migration route between Italy, Libya and Tunisia. Since the beginning of 2026, over 800 people fleeing their homes have lost their lives here, marking a staggering 150% increase compared to 2025.
Benthe spoke to the crew of the Humanity 1 to find out how they see the future now that Italian legislation is restricting their work and what impact the new EU rules will have. She also interviewed local Sicilians to find out what they think about the presence of the civilian fleet.
