Another 300 lost lives in the Med yesterday

There was a disaster off Lampedusi when on the 3^rd of October 2013 over 360 migrants drowned.  By the end of that October over 500 lives were lost off Lampedusi. Such was the international reaction an operation, Mare Nostrum, was initiated which involved boats patrolling the Mediterranean to make sure such huge disasters were prevented.  This initiative managed to save 140,000 lives in a year during its operation.  Unfortunately, on the 1^st Nov 2014 another initiative replaced Mare Nostrum called Frontex Triton.  This receives two thirds the funding of its predecessor.  This at a time when Syria's brutal civil war is pushing a new wave of migrants towards Europe. Their numbers have not only surged, but many asylum seekers in Europe have also fled the conflicts and turmoil in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.  The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, says more migrants are dying because search and rescue efforts have been reduced.  According to Amnesty International,

“With the continued instability in the Middle East, conflicts largest and the deterioration of the situation in Libya, desperate people are seeking safety and refuge in Europe.

As Europe strengthens its land borders, people are being pushed towards more and more dangerous routes through the central Mediterranean. Now more than ever, the EU must ensure collective mechanisms and global search and rescue along the sea route more dangerous the world.”

Questions are being asked whether an organisation, such as Triton, whose mandate is border surveillance, will be able to protect the vulnerable migrants.  Certainly, patrolling closer to the Italian borders, as its intent, will not help those drowning between Malta and the North African coast.  Already 3000 have died attempting the crossing since the start of this year.  Understanding where migrants are fleeing from is important.

A few days ago more boats sank with an estimated loss of live of 300 and this did not even reach the front pages of the media either online or in print.  Being so close in Malta, I was shocked that such a tragic loss of life does even merit appropriate mention in the world’s press.  If you hunt for the item you will find it here, at this link.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31414009

In a world of increasing turmoil on every front it is possible to be distracted from the tragic suffering happening on Europe’s doorstep.  The policy of averting our eyes or pretending it is not happening does not ameliorate their plight or our moral responsibilities.