UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres and Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visited the naval rescue headquarters in Malta yesterday, on a weekend in which new boat sinkings were being reported off Egypt and Libya claiming more innocent lives.
Ms Jolie and M. Guterres met three survivors of one of the tragedies, who had been rescued by a commercial vessel and brought to Malta by the Maltese authorities, a statement by the UNHCR said.
In the Maltese capital Valletta, Ms Jolie also visited Syrian refugee families who survived a similar devastating boat tragedy last October. They included a couple from Damascus whose three small children perished during the crossing, and a doctor from Aleppo whose wife and three year-old daughter drowned. Half of those arriving in Europe by boat are refugees from Syria and Eritrea.
Mr Guterres and Ms Jolie thanked the naval authorities for their part in successful rescue operations that have saved many lives. Amidst concerns about the sustainability of the Italian Mare Nostrum operation, they also called for increased efforts by European nations to contribute to rescue efforts and reduce deaths at sea.
Over 2,500 people have drowned or gone missing attempting the crossing this year alone, including over 2,200 since the start of June.
Ms Jolie said: "We all need to wake up to the scale of this crisis. There is a direct link between the conflicts in Syria and elsewhere and the rise in deaths at sea in the Mediterranean. We have to understand what drives people to take the fearful step of risking their children's lives on crowded, unsafe vessels; it is the overwhelming desire to find refuge. It is also part of a bigger problem - the soaring numbers of people displaced by conflicts around the world today, which now stands at over 51 million. Unless we address the root causes of these conflicts the numbers of refugees dying or unable to find protection will continue to rise."
130,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea so far this year, more than double the 60,000 recorded in 2013. Italy has received over 118,000 arrivals, most of them rescued at sea by Italy under its Navy operation Mare Nostrum.
As the EU and member states search for a better framework for responding to the worsening situation in the Mediterranean, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said: “We don’t have many chances to get this right. Europe’s response needs to be a truly collective effort, one that offers safer ways to find protection while maintaining a strong capacity to rescue people at sea. If it fails, many more lives will be lost at Europe’s doorstep.”
As part of a package based on solidarity and responsibility-sharing amongst states, UNHCR is calling for legal, safe alternatives for those fleeing conflict and persecution, so that they are not forced to attempt the crossing into Europe by sea, including resettlement, admission based on humanitarian needs, private sponsorship schemes, facilitated access to family reunification and the use of programmes such as student or employment visas.
In a separate statement, The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) said it had the honour of hosting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres and Ms Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees late yesterday afternoon. Accompanied by the Deputy Commander of the AFM , Colonel. Mark Mallia and Colonel Spiteri in charge of Operations and officials of the Ministry for Home Affairs, the UNHCR and his envoy were shown several units of the AFM relating to search and rescue operations such as the 4 Regiment's Rescue and Coordination Centre, the Air Wing Base and the Maritime Squadron.
During the course of this event, a Search and Rescue operation was taking place where the High Commissioner and Ms Jolie had the opportunity to speak to two of the survivors of the recent tragedy which occurred at the far end of the Mediterranean.
The AFM demonstrated a simulated Search and Rescue scenario off the coast of Malta using an Alouette Helicopter, a Search and Rescue Launch and the Offshore Protector Class Patrol Vessel P52. The United Nations Commissioner expressed his appreciation and had ample words of praise for the work carried out by the AFM personnel. Following the demonstration of the search and rescue capabilities of the AFM, Mr Oliveira Guterras said ‘’I can see courage, determination and generosity. All the members of the staff of the Armed Forces of Malta that have been involved in dramatical operations of rescue at sea, rescued thousands and thousands of people drowning in the Mediterranean or risking to drown in the Mediterranean, and bringing protection to those who are fleeing situations that are absolutely tremendous.
To see a family coming from Syria, that was born with members of the family and were killed with neighbours that have disappeared, to see these families again risking their lives on the sea makes us really feel how important it is the work that the armed forces of Malta are doing. It’s a work that should be recognized by the international community and I appeal for strong solidarity with Malta. Malta is a small country, of course with a limited social capacity. Malta has been always very cooperative to rescue people and Malta deserves solidarity of the European Union and international community. Armed Forces of Malta deserves the recognition of all those that feel that it is extremely important to go on with this very generous but also very courageous work‘’