ROME (ITALY) – A migrant rescue vessel funded by renowned British street artist Banksy has issued distress calls, saying it is stranded in the Mediterranean and overloaded with migrants.
Christened Louise Michel in memory of a French feminist anarchist, the boat began operating last week and it has been trying to dock at a safe port with 219 people on board who were picked up from near the coast of Libya.
The vessel’s 10-member crew issued a series of tweets, saying the situation on board was worsening and appealed to Italian, Maltese and German authorities for help.
“We are reaching a state of emergency. We need immediate assistance,” said one tweet, adding the corpse of a migrant who died in the vessel was also on board.
In another tweet, the crew said the boat was “no longer the master of her own destiny” due to her overcrowded deck and a life raft at her side.
Italian charity vessel Mare Jonio said it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta to assist the stranded vessel.
“Helping these people is a question of life or death,” it said.
Two UN agencies have demanded the urgent disembarkation of Louise Michel and two other vessels carrying 400 migrants.
As many as 200 are on the Sea Watch 4, a German charity vessel, while 27 are aboard the commercial tanker Maersk Etienne.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.