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The UN Refugee Agency says that nearly 400 refugees and migrants rescued by three ships in the Mediterranean should be able to disembark safely.
A joint statement issued with the International Organization for Migration said it was a “humanitarian imperative to save lives.”
Italy’s coast guard has evacuated 49 people from an overloaded rescue boat funded by British artist Banksy.
Overnight, his crew tweeted a call asking for immediate assistance.
European authorities had not responded adequately, they said.
UNHCR and IOM said that the lack of an agreement on a regional landing system could not be an excuse to deny a safe harbor to vulnerable people.
“It is essential that other EU member states provide more support to the countries at the forefront to welcome those arriving by sea to the Mediterranean,” the joint statement said.
The Louise Michel, funded by Banksy, has already carried out several rescue missions.
His crew tweeted that they had managed to keep the boat stable and had the body of a potential migrant in their only life raft.
UNHCR and IOM said there were more than 200 refugees and migrants rescued at the Louise Michel. The Italian state broadcaster RAI put the number at 130.
“They must be transferred and disembarked urgently from the Louise Michel, which is currently well beyond its safe transport capacity after carrying out a rescue at dawn this morning,” UNHCR and IOM said.
“Any delay could jeopardize the safety of those on board, including the crew.”
On Saturday, Louise Michel confirmed via Twitter that the Italian coastguard had removed 49 of the most vulnerable survivors, but this left “most of them waiting.”
He also said that another rescue ship, the SeaWatch4, which is much larger but already has 200 migrants on board, had arrived to “help us do what Europe hesitates to do.”
- Migrants in the Mediterranean
The SeaWatch4 later tweeted that it had brought the rest of Louise Michel’s migrants on board, but was now carrying 350 people who should be able to get to shore as soon as possible.
A third ship also needs help. A group of 27 migrants and refugees, including a pregnant woman and children from Libya, have been aboard the Maersk Etienne since its rescue on 5 August.
“A commercial oil tanker cannot be considered a suitable place to house people in need of humanitarian assistance or who may need international protection,” UNHCR and IOM said.
According to UN data, 443 people have died or disappeared trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa so far in 2020.
Just over 40,000 have reached Europe by sea during the same period.
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