Band back rescue charity saving thousands of migrant lives in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas

Coldplay is to support a charity which has saved the lives of thousands of refugees off the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) operates search and rescue missions helping migrants fleeing war and persecution in the middle east.

Lead singer Chris Martin said: “Every year, Moas rescue thousands of people who risk death at sea while searching for a better life. But for an accident of geography, those people could be us and we could be them. For this reason, we’re proud to support Moas’ life-saving work.”

Moas boats have rescued an estimated 33,000 refugees attempting dangerous sailings to Europe . The majority of refugees were from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Martin has released a capella version of his song Don’t Panic on a fundraising film released this week featuring footage of a recent rescue. Moas said the film “aims to give the viewer an immersive experience of a rescue and show the fear, hope and anguish experienced by the refugees and migrants”.

Moas was founded in 2014 by two Italian-American entrepreneurs, Chris and Regina Catrambone, after a humanitarian disaster in October 2013 when an estimated 400 people drowned off the island of Lampedusa.

Regina Catrambone said: “We are very grateful to Coldplay for believing so strongly in our cause”.

“Moas is a young organisation that in a few years has managed to make a significant difference in mitigating one of the most heart-breaking humanitarian tragedies of our era.

"However, there is still so much to be done. Coldplay’s support will allow our work to reach the hearts of a wider audience worldwide.”