The UN Supports Banksy-Funded International Migrant Lifeboat

by | Sep 1, 2020 | Culture, Stories | 0 comments

A photo of Banksy and Pia Klemp's refugee boat, the Louise Michel.

The United Nations have officially backed Banksy‘s recent humanitarian venture. The enigmatic artist had decided to use his platform for good and purchase a European rescue boat. Dubbed the Louise Michel, the former French Navy ship is used to aid those who need help at sea. Currently, the European coast guard will not accommodate non-Europeans who are in the need of assistance. The Louise Michel and crew hope to resolve this issue and help without prejudice.

Over the weekend, it became known that the ship was running out of space and needed somewhere safe for the stranded migrants to disembark. A report from the BBC stated that people on the boat and other similar rescue boats were sick, injured, and that overcrowding was common.

The aforementioned intergovernmental organization’s Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration released a statement supporting the boats’ efforts and urging European countries to allow them refuge. Representatives from the Louise Michel claim that many of their mayday calls are ignored by various countries. They recently shared an audio file on Twitter of one of the calls that they say was disregarded by the Maltese military.

Setting Sail

Banksy himself heard about captain Pia Klemp‘s various maritime missions and decided he must get involved. An email between the two was recently published by DJ Mag.

“Hello Pia, I’ve read about your story in the papers,” reads the email. “You sound like a badass. I am an artist from the UK and I’ve made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I can’t keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Well done. Banksy.”

At the time of writing, the Louise Michel and other rescue boats are looking for a safe place to unload their passengers. Organizers have stated that they need funding for both the ship itself and legal fees accrued during their rescues. They also encourage the public to start a conversation about this topic and to use their hashtag #SeaRescueIsNotACrime.

For more information on the Louise Michel’s fight to help those in need, visit their official website.

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