The winds have dropped and the weather has settled, meaning that thousands of Sub-Saharan migrants are preparing to make the sea crossing to Europe from Libya.

It is the end of May, and already search and rescue operations are in full swing – and already the first deaths have been reported. An Italian captain has already spoken about the huge emotional toll of having to pull hundreds of people out of the water when a migrant boat capsized yesterday.

As things stand, 20 lifeless bodies have already been lifted from the water by search and rescue vessels. But it is understood that as of yesterday afternoon, some 22 simultaneous operations saved a staggering 4,000 people in just one day.

The departures from Turkey to the Greek islands will continue, but human trafficking by Islamic State, as well as the fact that the Turkey route is being blockaded will mean that people will return to use the Libya route.

The lawlessness that wracks Libya, coupled with the IS capitalising on making a buck, will make it easier for traffickers to load people onto boats and set them on a course for Italy or Malta.

The number of arrivals in Malta plummeted over the past few years after the Lampedusa tragedy led to the Frontex Search and Rescue Operation being extended to allow for international patrols closer to the Libyan coastline.

In addition, the EU has given the go-ahead for training sessions for the Libyan Coastguard to facilitate the prevention of tragedies, before they unfold in the Mediterranean. The EU has also reached a resettlement deal whereby European nations must take quotas of migrants should emergency arrivals result in the flooding of Southern entry points (Malta included).

We must be vigilant. Malta has secured a stop-gap ship in terms of an Irish vessel being handed over to allow for the Diciotti Class vessel to undergo a much needed refit. This will allow the Armed Forces of Malta a presence in long-distance off shore patrolling.

The authorities must also ensure that our reception centres (and the staff to keep them running) are fully prepared to deal with any influx of migrants that might occur. While many will continue to try their luck with the land route, they are mainly people from the Middle East who are trying to escape through Turkey. But the African phenomenon will return. And we have already seen signs that this year could see untold thousands trying to make the sea crossing to the ‘promised land’.

 The vessels which people are put on are becoming ever more crowded and as the incident which took place on Thursday shows, tragedies will happen when you pack people on sardines on a boat which then breaks down. As soon as help approaches, all it takes is for people to get over excited and the laws of physics will take over.

Malta must continue to remain in close dialogue with its Mediterranean neighbours. Above all, we must continue to do our duty and to help when our assistance is asked for. We must also make sure that we are ready on the home front. While the islands gear up for yet another bumper tourism year, we are also faced with the potential of mass arrivals of another kind. But above all else, our priority must continue to be that of saving people’s lives.