'Lives will be lost' if Italy drops Mediterranean rescue mission

A multi-millionaire Catholic couple, who started their own private migrant rescue service in the Mediterranean after being inspired by Pope Francis, have spoken of their fear that many lives will be lost as EU takes over the salvage mission.

Italy has been running a major search and rescue operation called Mare Nostrum following a boat disaster off the island of Lampedusa last year in which more than 300 migrants drowned.

Even so, around 3,000 are estimated to have drowned making the crossing this year alone.

A joint EU rescue migrant rescue mission is due to start this weekend in the Mediterranean but will have just a third of the funding of the previous Italian mission and will only patrol close to shore.

American father-of-one Chris Catrambone, who, along with wife Regina launched the private rescue service two months ago, said the couple were "very concerned" that many more lives will be lost with the end of the Italian mission.

After hearing Pope Francis speak about the duty to help migrants, the Malta-based couple bought a 130 ft ship and equipped it with drones, medical staff and rescue workers. They have been patrolling for the last 60 days during which they say they helped save 3,000 lives.

Mr Catrambone said their mission has had to come to a temporary halt to raise new funds.

"We won’t be out there this winter so we are very concerned that without us and without Mare Nostrum there won’t be anybody out there offshore saving lives."

"The focus has to be about saving people, not politics."

"Mare Nostrum was a great operation and with their help made it possible for us to save 3,000 people."

He said that while in most years migration flows usually slow in the winter, the good weather and continued chaos in Libya may convince the traffickers to continue, at high risk.

He said: "In most years migration slows considerably in winter because the seas are too rough, even more than usual."

"But if the weather is good and the situation in Libya is unchanged then the migration season will not come to an end yet."

At least 20 immigrants were yesterday feared dead off the coast of Libya.

The news follows a decision by the UK not to support the rescue of those at risk of drowning during crossings to Europe.

The UK has a duty to aid refugees making the perilous crossing from north Africa to Europe, the bishop responsible for migrants said this week.

Bishop Patrick Lynch spoke out as MPs debated the Government’s proposal to pull funding for search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Labour (Co-op) MP Mark Lazarowicz raised the Urgent Question after the Guardian revealed the UK would not support a limited joint EU operation intended to replace the official Italian mission.

“While efforts are being made to find lasting solutions to these challenges, we have a duty to heed with compassion the cries of our wounded brothers and sisters, and not to pass by on the other side,” Bishop Lynch said.

Britain was still Europe’s leading naval power, he added.

“To refuse to join in Mediterranean search and rescue operations would be a misguided abdication of responsibility to those thousands of men, women, and children who have been driven from their homes by persecution and war and forced to risk death at sea.”

Earlier this week the Catholic MP Sarah Teather, chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, accused the Government of “plumbing new depths of inhumanity” by pulling support for rescue operations.

The Guardian revealed that Lady Anelay, a Foreign Office Minister, had told the House of Lords: “We do not support planned search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean,” because of “an unintended ‘pull factor’, encouraging more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing and thereby leading to more tragic and unnecessary deaths”.

Ms Teather said today that the situation in the Mediterranean was the biggest refugee crisis in half a century. “We should all be ashamed,” she said. “We would rather let people drown for nothing other than baseless political motives. It shows that when it comes to immigration, the Government has plumbed new depths of inhumanity.”

“We cannot pretend this problem has nothing to do with us and wash our hands as people die. It is the policies we are pursuing, attempting to turn Europe into a fortress with no safe routes in, that is forcing migrants into risking their lives. We are forcing people to choose between dying in their own war torn country and drowning in the sea."

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'Lives will be lost' if Italy drops Mediterranean rescue mission

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