Boat Migrants Risk Everything for a New Life in Europe

Photographer Massimo Sestini accompanied the Italian navy on its rescue missions earlier this month, offering a rare up-close glimpse of the men, women and children who make the dangerous trip to start a new life

Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa on the Mediterranean, June 7, 2014.

A soldier using binoculars to spot boats carrying asylum seekers, June 2, 2014.

Refugees rescued off a boat and carried onto an Italian navy ship, June 7, 2014

Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa, June 7, 2014. (Massimo Sestini—Polaris)

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8, 2014.

An empty dinghy with leftover lifesavers after the Italian navy rescued asylum seekers off the coast of Africa, June 7, 2014. (Massimo Sestini—Polaris)

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8, 2014. (Massimo Sestini—Polaris)

African refugees rescued by the Italian navy at night off a rubber dinghy, June 8, 2014. (Massimo Sestini—Polaris)

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italian navy ship, June 8, 2014. (Massimo Sestini—Polaris)

African asylum seekers on board a rescue craft dispatched from an Italian navy ship, June 7. (Massimo Sestini—Polaris)

Africa refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued at sea, June 8, 2014.