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They were wet, traumatized and had suffered severe fuel burns in some cases, but on Saturday more than 200 refugees had to wait on the completely crowded and unmanageable private rescue boat “Louise Michel” and on specially deployed life rafts.
The Italian and Maltese authorities ignored the precarious situation for a long time and help only arrived on Saturday night. Only then did the Italian coast guard intervene and embark 49 castaways, mainly families and children. The “Sea-Watch 4”, which is also operated by refugee activists, also changed course and took in the remaining refugees.
The crew of the “Louise Michel” welcomed a total of 219 refugees from two rubber dinghies on Thursday and Friday. One person was already dead at the time of the rescue, marine rescuers said. Survivors reported three other deaths.
“Louise Michel” sent an emergency message
The ten activists from the “Louise Michel” took over the survivors, the deck was packed and the capacity limit of the ship had been reached. Therefore, 33 migrants had to stay in the water in life rafts. “We were unable to maneuver as an association with the life rafts,” Lea Reisner, manager of onboard operations, tells SPIEGEL.
That is why the authorities were asked for help. Even an emergency report, called “Pan-pan”, initially received no response on Saturday morning. The signal is used when ships and their crews are in concrete but not in serious danger. Due to bad weather, it was decided to take the refugees aboard the “Sea-Watch 4”.
Banksy sponsored the ship
The “Louise Michel” once belonged to French customs, now the ship sails under the German flag. Artist Banksy financed the purchase, according to sea rescuers, and painted the ship. On August 18 it took off for the first time in Valencia; activists, including many Germans, kept the ship’s existence a secret for a long time, according to their own account for fear of arrest by authorities. The captain of the “Louise Michel” is Pia Klemp, who has also worked for Sea-Watch.
UN refugee agency calls for safe haven
The head of the UN refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, called for rescuers and refugees to be disembarked quickly. “Saving lives should not be punished or stigmatized,” he said. Especially not if there is no state rescue mission.
The escape route through the central Mediterranean is considered extremely dangerous. Around 20,000 people have lost their lives since 2014. It is estimated that more than 500 refugees died in the Mediterranean this year, the exact number is unknown. Italy and Malta closed their ports to sea rescuers during the crown crisis and often do not allow ships to disembark for days or weeks.
The European Union has created its own state rescue mission. The European warships of the “Irini” mission deliberately avoid the most popular escape routes. Instead, the EU is supporting the Libyan coast guard, which intercepts refugees off the coast and takes them back to the country from civil war. There, migrants and refugees are taken directly to official and unofficial detention camps, where they are sometimes tortured or raped and their families are blackmailed over the phone.
The “Sea-Watch 4” now has more than 300 refugees on board. The crew has been waiting for days to enter a safe harbor. Together with “Louise Michel”, she will now travel north again.
Another 27 refugees have been waiting on board the container ship “Etienne” for more than three weeks. The Maltese authorities do not allow them to arrive either. Among the castaways there is a child and a pregnant woman.
