Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini urged actor Richard Gere, who came on Friday to support migrants on board the Open Arms, aboard 121 migrants, to take them to Hollywood in his villas, reports Italian media.
“We saw the generous millionaire announce his concern for Open Arms migrants. Thank you: He could take them to Hollywood with his private plane and host them in his villas. Thanks, Richard,” Salvini said.
US actor Richard Gere, who came on Friday to support migrants on board the Open Arms, a week-long vessel off the Italian island of Lampedusa, called on Saturday to stop the “demonization” of migrants.
“Most people talk about migrants, but for me they are refugees. There are 121 different stories, extraordinary, powerful people, who have gone through unimaginable horrors, through hell, torture, rape, prison,” said Richard Gere, who claims that the action he has nothing to do with politics, but only with the help of people in distress.
Malta announced on Saturday that it is ready to receive 39 migrants rescued last night by the Spanish NGO Proactiva’s Open Arms, but not the 121 refugees present on board the nine-day vessel. The NGO rejects this option, wishing that all migrants could land in Malta.
The Maltese government said in a statement that it proposed transferring the 39 migrants aboard a military force ship and bringing them on Maltese soil, as the refugees were rescued in an area under Malta’s responsibility and coordinated by the Center of Malta. save RCC.
“But Open Arms rejects this solution and insists that Malta will receive the other 121 migrants rescued in an area for which neither Malta nor the competent coordinating authority is responsible,” the statement said.
Open Arms criticized Malta’s attitude in a message posted on Twitter: “After the rescue operation a few hours ago, Malta accepts to take over only 39 people. He refuses to take on the other 121 people who are nine days onboard. This reaction has generated several safety issues onboard. ”
Proactiva founder Oscar Camps held a press conference in Lampedusa with actor Richard Gere, who went on Friday to support migrants on board the Open Arms, a week-long blocked ship off the Italian island of Lampedusa.
