UN agency asks for help for Banksy-sponsored migrant boat

The UN refugee agency urged European nations on Saturday to let in hundreds of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by humanitarian ships, including one sponsored by British street artist Banksy.

UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration said more than 200 rescued refugees and migrants needed to get off the non-profit MV Louise Michel search and rescue boat immediately, which they said “currently far exceeds its safe carrying capacity “.

The bright pink boat was painted by renowned street artist Banksy, who posted a video Saturday on Instagram confirming his involvement in the rescue operation.

“Like most people who succeed in the art world, I bought a yacht to cross the Mediterranean,” he wrote in the captions that accompany the video. “It is a French Navy ship that we turned into a lifeboat because the EU authorities deliberately ignore calls for help from non-Europeans.”

The subversive artist continued: “All black lives matter.”

The Louise Michel has been collecting groups of migrants in the central Mediterranean on what appeared to be his maiden rescue trip.

The ship’s crew called for help and a safe harbor earlier on Saturday, saying it had rescued so many people that it could no longer navigate safely. The Italian coast guard said it sent a boat to remove 49 of the most vulnerable people from the ship to safety.

The UNHCR and IOM petition also named hundreds of migrants on two other charity ships who urgently need to find a safe harbor. The agencies said 27 migrants who left Libya, including a pregnant woman and children, have been stranded on the commercial oil tanker Maersk Etienne “for an unacceptable three-week period” since their rescue on August 5.

Another 200 people rescued on the SeaWatch4, which has waited days to enter a port, also needed urgent help, the agencies added.

“The humanitarian imperative to save lives should not be penalized or stigmatized, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts,” the agencies said.

They reiterated their concern over the lack of specific EU-led search and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean and the lack of coordination between European nations to support countries like Italy and Malta, which are bearing the brunt of arriving migrants. by sea.

In a series of tweets in recent days, Louise Michel’s team harshly criticized the European Union for its immigration policy. The tone of the tweets became increasingly urgent in the past 24 hours after the crew reported that the number of migrants on board was too high and included women, children and the body of one person.

“We need immediate help,” the team tweeted via their username @MVLouiseMichel. “We are safeguarding 219 people with a crew of 10. Act # EU now!”

Another humanitarian aid ship, the Mare Jonio, said on Saturday it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta to come to the aid of the Louise Michel.

-AP