The irregular migration problem that Malta has been facing will never be solved unless the political parties of this island convene and come up with a resolute answer how to tackle it. Many people know that many countries in the African continent are destroyed by all sorts of disasters, both natural and man-made.

Countries such as Sudan, Chad, Sierra Leone, Congo, Niger, Zimbabwe and many more have suffered from civil wars, ethnic cleansing, border disputes, floods and dry seasons which have left many areas uninhabitable. This forced many people to flee from these highly volatile regions.

One can easily envisage that this immigration problem will be with us for a long, long time, and that no wishful thinking will make it go a way. So while one should never turn his back on these people who are running for their lives, one has to be realistic and bear in mind that our small island can’t carry a burden it just can’t bear. Our island is some eight miles by 17 miles with a population of 400,000; even if Malta was financially strong to host these unfortunates, our size makes it an impossible task.

This refugee problem is or should be a world problem. All the world’s powerful countries should help Africa by all means – financially, technically, and even by military intervention if need be, to dispose of tyrants who keep their people in bondage.

I conclude my letter by saying that if Malta is left alone and its pleas for help are ignored, then Malta should act to safeguard its people from being dragged down by this never ending exodus.

Emm. Spagnol

Zejtun