Migrants stranded off Malta: Call for common sense and decency
As Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing I would like to express my concern on the current situation of 49 migrants that are stranded at sea. Until this PR was delivered to the press, no ports have given permission for the boat to enter the harbour and disembark people who have been isolated on these ships, some, for almost three weeks.
Returning these people to Libya shouldn’t be an option, especially in the light of the UN Support Mission in Libya and the United Nations Human Rights – Office of the High Commissioner report, ‘Desperate and Dangerous: Report on the human rights situation of migrants and refugees in Libya’ (18 December 2018).
This is an unparalleled and unprecedented situation.
If the MV Sea-Watch 3 spokeswoman, Linardi’s statement (timesofmalta.com 6/1/2019) is anything to go by, the situation is indeed precarious. She states; ‘…the vessel was currently at double its capacity and the rescued asylum seekers were being accommodated in a crowded room. As the boat rocked, the migrants were "throwing up on each other and in very difficult situation.”’ These facts corroborate that we need to take speedy action.
The Maltese Government and the Maltese people are known for their high standards of camaraderie. We are morally bound to host these individuals and use our strong diplomatic presence in the EU and the UN to ensure that such situations are dealt with around the table knowing well-enough that complex political arguments need to be made, but not at the cost of risking peoples’ lives. Trying to resolve an issue through Tweets and media releases will surely not see us through this debacle. I appeal for common sense, decency and decorum to prevail. The sacrosanct value of human kindness and compassion needs to triumph. The principle of ‘safety first’ should take absolute precedence.
As Dean of this Faculty I commend the Maltese Government, especially the Armed Forces of Malta, NGOs and individuals who work tirelessly in this sector.
Prof. Andrew Azzopardi
Dean, Faculty for Social Wellbeing