The Italian movement, "Generazione Identitaria" [Identity Generation], has launched a crowdfunding campaign to prevent NGO search and rescue ships from setting sail to save migrants in the Mediterranean.
Members of the "Generazione Identitaria" have started a crowdfunding campaign entitled "Defend Europe," which aims to create a small anti-NGO flotilla to prevent ships operated by humanitarian organisations from departing on migrant search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean.
Blockade at Catania port
The campaign was launched on May 14, shortly after the movement's first demonstrative action in Catania port the previous evening. Four activists used a hired boat to try and prevent NGO SOS Mediterranèe's ship, the Aquarius, from setting sail. The boat drew alongside the ship, disturbing its departure until the Italian coast guard intervened.
"The idea for the action came from Italian and Austrian identity activists," the movement's spokesman Lorenzo Fiato said, adding, "We consider mass immigration to be a common problem throughout western Europe."
"The aim is to intensify this kind of activity at sea. We are raising money so we can secure better boats, a professional crew and lawyers," the spokesman explained. According to the campaign website, over 46,000 euros have already been raised, with the target set at 50,000 euros.
Obstructing NGOs on departure
"We don't want to make problems for people when they are brought into the ports [following rescue operations], but slow down, follow, disturb and block the NGO ships on departure", Fiato said. The group shakes off accusations of obstructing migrant sea rescue operations, saying, "This would be true if we blocked the ships on their return to port, but we prevent the ships from setting sail".
Without the NGOs, the Libyan authorities would deal with the flows, members of the movement believe. They are also convinced that the migrants arrive "because they know they will be saved."
By blocking the organisations, "we want to prevent these people from leaving their countries and the NGOs from doing their job," Fiato told the media.