Denouncing "failed states" and a "intoxicating" campaign, on Thursday January 21, around thirty communities launched a support platform for SOS Méditerranée, whose ambulance ship resumed on January 11 its rescues at sea of ​​migrants in Central Mediterranean. 

"Solidarity movements are still taking off thanks to a handful of initiators who are leading the way and showing that a solution is possible", welcomed the president of the NGO, François Thomas, during a press videoconference.

"These communities are and will be an essential support force for testimony, advocacy, financial support in the face of this human tragedy which is unfolding at the gates of Europe," he added. 

Their support is also essential in the face of the "poison that is circulating", he continued, referring to accusations of complicity with smugglers regularly launched against NGOs providing aid to migrants in the Mediterranean.

⚡COMMUNIQUÉ Faced with the humanitarian emergency in the #Mediterranean, while the EU States are withdrawing from their responsibilities in terms of sea rescue, local authorities🇫🇷 are launching the Solidarity Communities Platform with @SOSMedFrance https: // t.co/vR4VK5ETpK pic.twitter.com/O2cWHd41M8

- SOS MEDITERRANEE France (@SOSMedFrance) January 21, 2021

Transactions costing 8

million euros per year, 90

% private donations

Beyond the hoped-for "political lever" effect, the 27 communities - two regions (Brittany and Occitanie), eight departments in the West and in the South and 17 municipalities including Marseille, Lille and Bordeaux - which have joined the platform. are committed to maintaining their financial support for the rescue operations.

At a cost of 8 million euros per year, these operations are 90% financed by private donations.

In 2020, the contribution of local authorities amounted to 800,000 euros.

"We can no longer close our eyes, we will not be able to say that we did not know, we must act when precisely the States are failing", underlined the president (PS) of the department of Loire-Atlantique, Philippe Grosvalet. 

"It is not only a duty, but an obligation to recognize the unconditionality of sea rescue," he added.

"Solidarity must have an XXL character."

In 2020, more than

1,200 migrants died in the Mediterranean

"You never open your arms wide enough", echoed the socialist president of Occitanie, Carole Delga.

Faced with "those who are scary with these questions of identity and who would like us to all be opposed", this platform "is an organizational response," said the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.

"We cannot let this Mediterranean Sea be the largest European cemetery", underlined the socialist councilor.

In total, more than 1,200 migrants perished in 2020 in the Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration.

With AFP

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