“We cannot maneuver.” SOS by Louise Michel financed by Banksy: 219 migrants on board. The Italian coast guard intervenes

After the continuous Sos launched through Twitter by Louise michel, a German-flagged ship financed by the British artist Banksy, the Italian Coast Guard has decided to intervene. Faced with the danger of the situation, one was sent to the place. patrol boat class 300 from Lampedusa that embarked the 49 people considered most vulnerable, that is, 32 women, 13 children and 4 men to complete families. The corpse of the pink boat must also be brought ashore. In recent days, the situation aboard the Louise Michel, which saved 219 migrants, had become unsustainable. The ship, a tweet from the organization reads, “fails maneuver for sure and no one comes to our aid. The rescued people have suffered extreme trauma, it is time for them to be taken to safety. We need immediate help ”. In a previous post, the rescuers had explained that the ship “no longer has control of its maneuvers due to the overcrowded bridge“. In the last hours he has sailed to their rescue ionian sea of Mediterranea, while the Sea Watch 4 has announced that he will change course to try to help her, despite being beyond 4 hours away. “The reason? – We read on their social networks – Because the European authorities deny help once more. Shame on the EU! ”.

Providing a reconstruction of what happened at sea in the last hours is the Italian general command of the Port Offices, according to which the initial responsibility lies with Malta. The Louise Michel “spotted, in Sar Maltese area of ​​responsibility, a rubber boat with about 130 migrants on board, in poor navigability conditions. Informed of the sighting by the Maltese authority, responsible for search and rescue activities in that maritime area, the Louise Michel unit carried out an initial transshipment of 97 migrants, hospitalizing the remaining 33 in a rescue boat. The unit (Germany) also provided information on ongoing activities to the flag State (Germany) as well as to the Rcc (Rescue Coordination Center) of Malta which, subsequently and also due to the anticipated worsening of the marine meteorological conditions in the area , contacted the National Rescue Center of the Coast Guard of Rome, requesting the intervention of naval assets to provide assistance. “It is in light of this request, they explain, that the Italian Coast Guard has decided to send the patrol boat from Lampedusa.

Before Italy moved, the Mediterranean NGO announced that it had “decided to intervene, anticipating the scheduled start of our Mission 09 in 48 hours, because at this time neither the Maltese nor the Italian authorities are providing the necessary assistance to more than 150 people in imminent danger of death, “reads a note.” It will be a journey of many hours and we hope that the military units of the Italian Coast Guard or the Maltese decide to intervene sooner. The Louise Michel and the dozen people who are still in the sea would be easily accessible in less than two hours from Lampedusa and in less than three of Valletta with quick settings. Louise Michel has been helping a rubber boat of 130 people since last night. The situation is dramatic, one person on board has died and the crew cannot guarantee assistance to all. There are many women and children, A lot of people have serious medical problems because gasoline burns and the many hours at sea. “

On board the Louise Michel, a 30-meter boat whose story was told by guardian a few days ago, there is a team of 10 persons e “219 survivors in total, 33 of which are still in a life raft plus one deceased in a body bag ”. Many of the refugees have “fuel burns – explains the organization – they have been at sea for days and are now alone in a search and rescue zone. UE (!)… Do your job. Save them. “The same appeal had been relaunched in recent hours by the Italian NGO Mediterranea saving humans. In a tweet addressed to the minister Paola De Micheli and the Coast Guard says: “The @MVLouiseMichel is in an emergency situation and the Italian and European institutions must intervene to rescue the more than 200 people on board and the crew. Save them, they are two hours from Lampedusa ”. The turning point came on Saturday afternoon.