Benefactor couple fund first ever private migrant rescue at sea mission
A philanthropist couple who felt compelled to act following the Lampedusa shipwrecks that killed more than 700 asylum in October, has poured millions of euros into the first ever privately-funded sea rescue mission.
Moved by an appeal by Pope Francis, who described the deaths as shameful, Christopher and Regina #Catrambone have been working to set up the #Migrant_Offshore_Aid_Station (#MOAS).
Over the past nine months or so, they have spent millions of euros of their own pocket (the final cost of the expense is still being worked out) to purchase and equip a 43-metre vessel, the #Phoenix 1, which will set sail for the central routes navigated by migrants, manned by a professional crew that includes paramedics.
The vessel is also equipped with two drones with mounted cameras, which will give the Phoenix 1 eyes in the sky over a vast areas at sea.
▻http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140713/local/benefactor-couple-fund-first-ever-private-migrant-rescue-at-sea-missio
#migration #asile #réfugiés #mourir_en_mer #secours #philanthropie #mécénat #Malte
Malta couple setting up private rescue service in Mediterranean
VALLETTA - A philanthropist couple has spent millions of euros to buy a ship which they plan to use to rescue migrants from rickety boats in the center of the Mediterranean.
▻http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/07/13/us-malta-rescue-idUKKBN0FI09V20140713
