Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Italy Sends Help to Banksy's Overloaded Migrant Rescue Boat

Reuters

   ROME - The Italian coast guard sent help Saturday to a rescue boat
   funded by British street artist Banksy after the vessel issued urgent
   calls for assistance, saying it was stranded in the Mediterranean and
   overloaded with migrants.

   The coast guard said a patrol boat dispatched from the southern Italian
   island of Lampedusa had taken on board 49 of "those considered most
   vulnerable" among the 219 migrants picked up by the ship since Thursday
   off the coast of Libya.

   Named after a French feminist anarchist, the Louise Michel started
   operating last week. Despite the help from Italy, it has still not
   found a safe port for the rest of the mainly African migrants on board.

.