NGO press statement about Lampedusa tragedy
Please read this press statement released by a group of human rights/refugee NGOs: Press release-Stqarrija ghall-Istampa – Lampedusa Tragedy
PRESS STATEMENT
Yesterday’s tragedy off the coast of Lampedusa, where more than 300 men, women and children drowned, is stark reminder of the high personal cost that asylum seekers must pay to reach a place of safety.
We are shocked beyond words by this tragic loss of life on the doorstep of the EU, supposedly an area of freedom, security and justice, and convey our deepest sympathy to all who have lost people they love – sons, daughters, spouses, parents, relatives or friends.
If the EU and its Member States are committed to preventing the repetition of such a catastrophe, we need to find ways to allow people who need protection to obtain it without running such huge risks.
Experience has shown that it is virtually impossible for people who need protection to get a visa to enter an EU Member State or other safe country where they can obtain the protection they need and are entitled to. Each year thousands of people are forced to travel illegally, using ever more dangerous routes and entrusting themselves to unscrupulous smugglers and traffickers who routinely exploit and abuse them. Official figures tell us that these are people who urgently need protection: the vast majority of people who applied for asylum in Malta in 2012 and 2013 – some 80% – were found to have protection needs.
The Italian authorities responded to yesterday’s terrible incident compassionately and efficiently. We express our admiration for their actions, as we do for the bravery and dedication of members of the Maltese Armed Forces, who regularly risk their own lives to rescue asylum seekers and migrants from vessels in distress. But this incident, as others before it, emphasises that their efforts are simply not enough. They need to be backed by political decisions that allow people to seek and enjoy protection.
We therefore join our voices to those of ECRE (European Council on Refugees and Exiles), JRS Europe and other NGOs in Europe and call upon the EU and individual Member States, including Malta, to show effective and concrete solidarity to people fleeing persecution. While continuing to provide protection to those who manage to make it to EU territory, the EU and its Member States have a responsibility to facilitate asylum seekers’ journey to Europe through humanitarian visas and other means to facilitate entry to the EU in a legal and safe manner.
7 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
Why do AFM personnel “risk their own lives” on SAR missions? Surely their naval vessels and helicopters can’t be in that bad a state.
If it’s a joint effort, you never know where the trip ends.
‘…They need to be backed by political decisions that allow people to seek and enjoy protection…’
Or better, Muscat is currently the main obstacle to any cohesive collective action on behalf of the countries facing these tragedies.
Which is why France and Italy joined forces Friday.
It will be absolutely interesting observe Muscat’s, make that his masters’, reaction to setting up humanitarian migratory corridors in North Africa.
We can’t have EU interests physically south of Malta now can we? More so anything to do with human rights.
Time to choose Joseph, you’re either in or out.
@H.P. Baxxter I’m not sure whether you are trying to be humorous in your comment or not, but sea rescue is a risky business and I’m sure it is not a job for the faint-hearted.
It can be pretty cushy to watch and critique from a comfy armchair. Just think, if it were not that dangerous would there be so many accidents in the first place?
No I’m not trying to be humorous at all. Phrases like “regularly risk their lives” are over the top and should be reserved for Helmand or the Adrar des Ifoghas.
Search and rescue should be no riskier than rappelling down a cliff (a good belay, rope and harness should see you down safely), firing an assault rifle (proper weapons handling, good fire discipline and ballistic goggles should reduce the risk of injury to a minimum), or driving a heavy vehicle on a coast road (vehicle-specific training and constant vigilance should reduce the danger to a minimum).
@H.P. Baxxter I’ll just roll my eyes and take a minute to think about the people who passed away mostly as a result of our politicians being unable/ unwilling to take proper decisions about sorting out all this criminal human trafficking activity in the Med. I think you comment is totally unconstructive towards to above post.
I have been in rescue for over 12 years and Baxxter is right. Haven’t seen anyone die since I joined, not even in the highly dangerous and “touch and go” Um-el-Faroud situation.