International Holocaust Remembrance Day held on 27 January commemorated the victims of the Holocaust, one of the darkest periods in human history. On this day, many films relating to this most tragic of events were aired on TV, a cinematographic effort portraying the depths mankind can reach in the exercise of pure cruelty. Some of these films such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Naked Among Wolves focused on the children's tragedy, the suffering they had to endure and the atrocities they had to witness. The first reaction of most viewers is often the same. How could this be allowed to happen? How could a human being do that to another human being? Pure evil is the answer.

Decades later, humanity is again living in testing times. Although the context is substantially different, the suffering of refugees fleeing war, persecution and poverty is very real and needs to be dealt with.  Save The Children, an international voluntary organisation, estimates that 26,000 children arrived in Europe without a family last year! This in itself is an absolute tragedy of abnormal proportions. 

Lately, the United Kingdom announced that it will give sanctuary to unaccompanied refugee children. I hope other countries will follow suit and in addition to their fair share of refugee intake quotas, do make that extra effort to save these children who are invariably at risk of being exploited.

In Malta, immigration has for many years been an important and challenging issue, and opinions on it differ greatly. However, I am sure that when the Maltese see the suffering of children, the principles of humanity, solidarity and compassion will prevail. I humbly appeal to the Government of Malta, voluntary sectors such as SOS Malta, and the Curia to help save these children. The enactment of a common framework can serve this special purpose and make a real difference.  Doing nothing is just not an option. As a famous Florentine renaissance-era poet stated: "The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in time of moral crisis".

 

J. Grech

Victoria

Gozo