Open Arms to Abascal: Come aboard our ship, you'll see that we are a mirror of the best of Spain

The founder of Open Arms, Óscar Camps, has taken advantage of the presence of the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, in the same port where they are docked this Sunday, Arrecife, to invite him to come aboard and see that they are "a mirror of the best of Spanish society."

The humanitarian vessel Open Arms is concluding its campaign in Lanzarote to raise awareness about the danger of migratory routes and the need to help at sea, which it has been carrying out since August in the islands with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, allowing the organization to show its work to more than 1,700 schoolchildren.

Its presence has been used to convene a press conference in the same port by the president of Vox, Santiago Abascal, who in recent weeks has called on the Spanish authorities to "confiscate and sink" the Open Arms, because he maintains that the NGO that manages it collaborates with human trafficking mafias.

"We are taking advantage of the fact that he is here, so close: Santiago, we invite you to come aboard and learn about our work. Perhaps in this way you will discover that Open Arms is not an enemy, but a mirror reflecting the best of Spanish civil society," said Camps, in statements to journalists, an hour before the Vox leader's call.

The spokesman for the Spanish NGO stressed that "while some invent imaginary enemies," they work every day "with very specific realities, with people fleeing wars, hunger and persecution."

Because, in his opinion, "Vox turns everything related to migration and saving lives into imaginary problems, but forgets what really affects citizens, such as the housing crisis, healthcare cuts, those affected by the DANA..."

"While they stir up imaginary ghosts, we continue to face realities. Spain does not need more hatred, it needs more empathy. The sea is not to blame, the blame lies with those who look the other way, especially when someone drowns or when a family loses their home," said Óscar Camps.

The founder of Open Arms reminded Vox that rescuing at sea "is not an option or a political decision," but a "legal and moral obligation" imposed on Spain by the different international conventions it has signed in this area.

Camps argued that "being a patriot does not mean defending a flag, but defending a community, in this case, Spain and the Spanish people" and stressed that this, at this time, implies worrying about the scarcity of housing and its cost, healthcare cuts, problems with mammograms in Andalusia, the situation of those affected by the DANA or job insecurity.

"There are many problems in this country that really affect Spaniards. Let's not invent problems that do not exist, invasions that do not exist, or champion great quarrels against windmills," he continued.

Regarding the agreement with the Government of the Canary Islands that has kept the ship in the islands since August, with three series of open days in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, he confirmed that they have received 30,000 euros from the autonomous community.

With that money, Camps indicated, they have covered part of the expenses of the ship and its crew during their stay in the Canary Islands to receive schoolchildren and citizens on board.