Bari: from 10 to 13 September it will be possible to visit the photographic exhibition “Life Support. The Emergency ship”.

It took place this morning, in the council chamber of the City Hall, the presentation of the photographic exhibition “Life Support. The Emergency ship”. The press conference was attended by the Councilor for Land Care Domenico Scaramuzzi, the coordinator of the Emergency Bari group Gabriella Nencha and Simona de Gennaro, former logistics manager on board the Life Support ship.

The photographic exhibition, promoted by the group of Emergency volunteers from Bari, tells, through the photographs on display, the search and rescue activities at sea of the Life Support ship, active since December 2022 in the central Mediterranean Sea, one of the most dangerous migratory routes in the world.

With the'with the help of a 360 degree viewer, visitors will have the opportunity to live an immersive experience, virtually boarding the ship to learn about the daily life and activities of the group. The exhibition, sponsored by the City of Bari, will be displayed in the former Treasury room of the Palazzo di Città, from 10 to 13 September, from 17.30 pm to 20 pm. Admission is free.

“The City of Bari has always been close to Emergency – Domenico Scaramuzzi underlined -. For us this is a natural closeness, because Bari is a welcoming city, a city that expresses this vocation also in the municipal statute. Therefore, in the wake of this vocation and a strong collaborative relationship with Emergency, which had a very important moment when we named a street near the Giovanni XXIII pediatric hospital after Gino Strada, we are truly happy to host this exhibition at the Palazzo di Città which tells the search and rescue activities at sea of ​​the Life Support vessel, sending a very strong message of humanity and defense of human life."

“I would like to thank Mayor Vito Leccese, Councillor Scaramuzzi and the entire municipal administration that has been very close to us and welcomed us with open arms, hosting this photographic exhibition and collaborating with us also for the event that will celebrate Emergency's 30 years, scheduled for Saturday 14 September, in the Don Tonino Bello park – Gabriella Nencha continued -. The photographic exhibition dedicated to the Life Support ship is crossing Italy and it was natural that it stopped in Bari, a city that knows what it means to safeguard and protect human life, as demonstrated by the painting of the Vlora ship exhibited here. I would like to remind you that on the side of the ship you can read a famous phrase by the founder of Emergency Gino Strada: “Rights belong to everyone, otherwise call them privileges.” Words that perfectly sum up the philosophy of the Life Support ship project, as well as that of all our projects”.

“Thanks to the city of Bari for welcoming us – Simona de Gennaro concluded -. I was responsible for the logistics of the Life Support ship for its first 15 missions, which is why I am happy to share my testimony here at Palazzo di Città today. The ship is still operating in the central Mediterranean, in the so-called Libyan “SAR” zone, considered highly at risk for migrants, due to the lack of coordinated intervention by the Libyan Coast Guard.a. Our missions operate in very difficult conditions, often linked to adverse weather conditions as well as the state of the migrant boats we find ourselves rescuing, very often crowded with hundreds of people and almost always close to sinking. We rescue people who are very scared, in very precarious physical conditions and who have suffered torture and violence, especially in detention camps in Libya, or who have lost close relatives during their or other journeys. These are very difficult situations, which we often tell to a wider audience: in this sense, I am convinced that this exhibition will also be able to represent an important tool".

The event on Emergency's 30th anniversary on Saturday 14th September

On Saturday 14th September the Don Tonino Bello park, in Poggiofranco, will host an initiative sponsored by the City of Bari on the occasion of Emergency's 30 years of humanitarian commitment. The protagonists, in addition to the Emergency volunteer group from Bari, are various local associations, including ASD Pattinatori, Azienda biologico Vito Stasi, Friday for Future, Incontra, Migrantes, Retake, Univox, Vivere a Colori.
Various activities are planned from 10am to 18pm: the day includes an amateur table tennis tournament dedicated to Gino Strada (reservations are required); There will also be several spaces dedicated to sports and games, a photography course, one of painting and an “Agorà” space, which will host presentations of some books and moments dedicated to “Pills of Rights” and “Pills of Humanity”, with the participation of Emergency and some of the associations that have joined the initiative.

Information and contacts:

email: bari@voluntarily.emergency.it
mobile phone 3664126248

More information about the Life Support ship, on the Emergency website, at by clicking here.