Just as a young boy who survived the 11 October Lampedusa tragedy has been reunited with family members in Egypt, we hear news of another human tide trying to reach the promised land of Europe.

In the space of just 24 hours, Italy’s Navy has rescued some 1,123 asylum seekers who were adrift in inflatable dinghies. The Italians are saying that migrant flows are now reaching record levels. The Italian authorities said that the migrants were found in eight inflatables and one flat bottomed barge – hardly the best craft to be navigating the harsh and cold Mediterranean Sea in the depths of winter. 47 of those aboard were women, four of them heavily pregnant and 50 were children.

In addition, Spanish authorities said that at least seven migrants had drowned (probably more) while trying to reach the North African enclave of Ceuta.  Hundreds of sub Saharan Africans dashed at the fence and tried to swim around the coast from Morrocco, which surrounds the tiny territory.

January’s figures have been alarming in terms of immigrant arrivals. Malta, so far, has been spared. No asylum seekers have arrived, or have been brought here this year. But Lampedusa is a completely different story. Italy says that some 2,000 people arrived in January – that is 10 times the amount which arrived in 2013.

January, February and March are the lull months when it comes to immigration, but this year, there seems to have been no end in sight to the number of people who have tried to make the journey from Africa to Europe.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will be attending the European Council meeting on 20-21 March, but we already know that nothing concrete will be on the agenda for discussion before June of this year.

If the numbers keep going as they are, Dr Muscat will have to reconvene with his allies in Greece and Italy and force the issue of migration onto the discussion table once again. The world cannot afford to see a double tragedy of the likes of last October. There are still many questions that have not been answered. As people, we feel compassion for others. But we are often numbed because we live amongst this human tragedy. But Lampedusa was a wakeup call. We will never know how many people actually died. But it was hundreds. Some people lost their whole family, leaving them to be the only survivors.  They are the ones who live with the guilt and burden that plagues them every day. Yet, the only ‘crime’ they have committed, is to try and seek a better life for themselves and their families.

We all know how ferocious the Mediterranean Sea can become in these months and there is a very real need to have a physical presence on the water. Of course, that comes at an expense of funds – and sacrifice by members of the armed forces who have to conduct patrols when the weather is bleak, cold and dank. If the numbers stay as they are, we could be headed towards disaster.