This boat has been immobilized for more than ten days by the Italian authorities on the island of Lampedusa due to a tightening of the legislation by the government of Giorgia Meloni.
The arrivals of migrants are increasing in Italy, but some NGOs can no longer help them, such as the Louise Michel who must remain at the quay. This humanitarian ship, chartered by the artist Banksy, has been immobilized for more than ten days in the port of Lampedusa. Because if the government of Giorgia Meloni counts on agreements with the countries to avoid the departures of migrants, it also seeks to prevent their arrival by tightening the legislation.
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In the Louise Michel cockpit, Fiona, the only French crew member, has to be patient. “We are in the bridge, the command room, where the captain and the officer coordinate rescue missionsdescribes Fiona. This is where we have the distress calls and where everything happens for all the coordination and planning.”
“We are being prevented from doing essential work”
On this former French navy ship, Banksy painted with a fire extinguisher and stencil his little girl with the balloon, but instead of the balloon a pink lifebuoy in the shape of a heart. Rescues prohibited, because the crew rescued more migrants than they had the right to according to the new decree of the Meloni government: “According to this new decree, once we have survivors on board, we are not allowed to carry out other rescue operations. So, we carried out three additional rescues. which is essential. The Coast Guard does not have enough means to respond to all the distress calls. This policy is deadly.”
“We, being detained here, there have been a lot of boats that have arrived and other calls. We can’t do anything.”
Fiona, crew member of the “Louise Michel”at franceinfo
On their ship of barely 30 m, the small crew turns in circles and is angry with Italy and Europe. The country has just been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for “degrading treatment” in the Lampedusa reception center and for “collective expulsion”.
This comes as no surprise to Tanja, a 26-year-old German, like most of the crew: “I think all of Europe knows that Italy and its far-right government is not doing a good job at the moment. Everyone knows that there are only 300 places in the center of Lampedusa home, but that there are over 3,000 people living there.”
“The situation hasn’t changed for years and I think all of Europe knows that.”
Tanja, crew member of the “Louise Michel”at franceinfo
Tanja like Fiona have only their words to defend their ideals, deprived of their means of rescue for another week.