On the Canebière, the town hall of 1-7 hosts the exhibition of SOS MéditerranéMarseille -

C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

  • The town hall of 1-7 in Marseille is hosting the SOS Méditerranée photo exhibition until February 14, entitled

    "

     Sauver, Protéger, Témoigner".

  • During the inauguration, Benoît Payan called for a “real European policy” towards refugees.

This is not the first time that the SOS Méditerranée photo exhibition has been shown in Marseille, it has already been shown at La Criée in September for the association's five years.

But this is the first time that it has been hosted, on the Canebière, in the sector town hall, or outside a cultural institution.

And this until February 14.

The symbolism is important, at a time when the association seeks more than ever to mobilize local communities in the face of the humanitarian emergency in the Mediterranean.

Entitled “Save, Protect, Testify”, the exhibition brings together the work of various photographers on board the Aquarius and then the Ocean Viking.

During the inauguration, Friday, the mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan assured that the second city of France "would never close its port to those who risked their lives" at sea. He thus repeated the proposal made at the end of August to Louise Michel to welcome this boat chartered by the artist Banksy, with 219 migrants on board rescued in the Mediterranean.

He was finally able to dock elsewhere, in a closer port.

"The images speak"

Benoît Payan also pledged that the next municipal council vote a deliberation so that Marseille, like Bordeaux, Paris, Lille or Grenoble, adheres to the platform of solidarity communities with SOS Méditerranée.

This commitment implies financial support but also to leverage the States, which are responsible for the rescue of people at sea. The mayor of Marseille has therefore called for France and Europe to take "their responsibilities", with " a genuine European policy for the solidarity-based reception of refugees throughout Europe ”.

“For us, being on the Canebière is visibility,” admits Sabine Grenard, event manager at SOS Méditerranée.

The strength of the images is very important.

Our third mission is witness.

"" It is very difficult to explain orally everything that is happening, the images speak, "smiles for his part Moussa, saved on January 1, 2017, who now lives in Marseille where he is preparing a professional electricity certificate. .

Sophie Beau, co-founder of Sos Méditerranée, at the inauguration of the exhibition on the Canebière - C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

"Chain of outstretched hands".

Sophie Beau, co-founder of the association, is often the first recipient of photos taken on board.

Stunned, she discovers the one taken by Laurin Schmid in October 2016, a wooden boat containing 722 people.

“Each time people were transhipped to our boats, so many came out of the hold, it was unimaginable”, testifies a rescuer.

The photo of the empty hold is striking.

When we ask her for her striking photos, Sophie Beau also takes us to see that of Anthony Jean on the rescue of a pregnant woman, joining the Aquarius, with “this chain of outstretched hands”.

"We need a European solidarity mechanism, there must be a European rescue fleet," continues Sophie Beau.

The support of local elected officials is essential to activate this political lever.

"

Round tables are organized around the exhibition on the theme “Marseille, port of arrival, home port”.

On the site www.toussauveteurs.org, you can also register for free guided tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

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  • Mediterranean

  • Rescue

  • Society

  • Marseilles

  • Migrants