Search and rescue charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) said today that World Refugee Day should serve as a reminder to all global stakeholders and citizens to prioritise humanity in all discussions about migration.
MOAS, which has rescued almost 7,000 people from packed and unseaworthy vessels in the central Mediterranean over the past two years, has consistently called for Search and Rescue to be placed at the top of the world’s agenda.
“This is a time of mass migration. More than 60 million people are fleeing their homes. A huge portion of these are minors. Many are risking their lives in treacherous conditions. As the world grapples with this phenomenon, we must remember the obligations we set for ourselves during other times of mass strife. Everybody has a right to life, which is why MOAS will continue to save lives at sea in the world’s most dangerous border crossing,” said director Martin Xuereb.
World Refugee Day celebrated at San Anton Palace
President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca met migrant-led organisations to mark World Refugee Day on 20th June 2015. During the meeting that was organised by the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, NGOs spoke about what contributed towards the wellbeing of the migrant population.
NGOs attending the meeting included the Migrant Network for Equality, Migrant Women Association, Ethiopian Community Association of Malta, Malta Migrants Association, African Media Association, Habesha Community and the Oromo Group. The NGOs spoke about the aims of their respective organisations and shared experiences about the work and projects they have carried out so far.
Expressing their concerns, the NGOs mentioned the negative effect of the press when incorrectly reporting incidents related to migrants as “illegal migrants”. Other issues raised included the lack of access to visiting people in detention, the rights of children whose parents have had their refugee status rejected, access to healthcare, the absence of a long-term plan for asylum seekers and support for all migrant associations.
The NGOs spoke of the situation of migrants and their families. According to the UNHCR the number of people forcibly displaced at the end of 2014 had risen to a staggering 59.5 million when compared to 51.2 million a year earlier and 37.5 million a decade ago.