Our Mediterranean Sea is currently inundated with boatloads of hope seekers. More women are making the brave decision to run for it, snatch a chance at a better life, rather than staying put in countries where rule of law is inexistent, human rights are unheard of, and they are treated much worse than cattle, with no hope for themselves or their children.

Of course, they are fully aware of the real possibility of perishing at some point during the arduous journey fraught with danger, and exposure to more abuse and exploitation. But, they strongly believe that there is hope at the end of the ordeal, and that if the crossing fails, death is better than the life they will be condemning themselves and their children to.

I have spent time in Africa, not least Abuja, the modern capital of Nigeria. The country has unlimited potential from all aspects. Its rugged natural beauty, bedecks a land unbelievably rich in all the natural resources you can imagine, from oil and its products, to diamonds and minerals of all kinds. Whatever mother earth can offer, Nigeria has it in unlimited supply... and yet it lacks what women seek most in a life: the opportunity to live as a complete, dignified human being in a safe environment.

As we speak, Boko Haram militants, the Islamist terror force that snatched and abducted over 200 schoolgirls from their school dormitories a few weeks ago, and is selling them into sex slavery under the guise of  marriage , is also  forcing over 800 people to flee every day, and brutally  killing civilians  in any little unprotected village it lays claim too. 3.3 million Nigerians have been driven from their homes by Boko Haram attacks alone. Needless to say, defenceless women and children  make up the most vulnerable group  and survivors and are set to be exposed to more and more suffering as potential food shortages start to loom, since 6o % of the countries' farmers were displaced before planting season.

The situation is no better  in Somalia where the Al Shabab thrives on similar terror tactics, South Sudan, Mali which is still reeling despite the timely French intervention, Central Africa, Congo and the others.

With the deteriorating situation in Libya which seems to be rapidly descending into the abyss  of civil  war, we can only expect more and more African refugees fleeing the inferno and hurling themselves into the willing arms of human traffic mega machines which in turn catapult them at our European shores regardless of their chances of  making it or not .  

With the total breakdown of the rule of law so close to  our shores and with thousands of men, women and children dead set on  pursuing the path to  the only glimmer of hope they can see,  the situation is obviously going to turn into an unprecedented  humanitarian crisis .

If our Euro politicians don't want to prove themselves more spineless  than they have proven themselves  before and after   the Lampedusa  crocodile -tear   baptised tragedy, our European Union of nations must act, as one Bloc, together with the international community and the African Union to help governments of afflicted African nations to reinstate the Rule of Law,  and stamp out terrorist movements.  Unless peace and stability is restored, the mass exodus from African and other countries will continue unabated with its humanitarian and economic implications. 

While all the necessary efforts are made by global leaders and agencies to address this global threat to peace and stability at source, Europe has to come up with an immigration policy that reflects its basic  values of solidarity and absolute regard for human rights. Proper Integration policies have to be drawn up to ensure that New Europeans will contribute to , as well as benefit  from the further strengthening through  cultural diversification , of the European family.

The complex problem of mass irregular immigration stemming from the presence of war, terrorism and abuse of human rights is a Pan -European and global issue. It is pitifully obvious that Italy and Malta cannot be left to face the music  alone, because none of us are safe until we are all safe, no matter how far away  our homes and families are from the homes that are being burnt to ashes and the families that are being torn apart and brutally tortured physically and psychologically.

A couple of days ago , Prime Minister Joseph Muscat praised the AFM and the Italian and US navies for their work. In a tweet he said: “Armed Forces of Malta doing a great job with Italia 'Mare Nostrum' and US Navy in joint operations on migration. Europe totally absent."

Let us hope that Europe heeds the call of our PM to rise to the occasion of living up to the values that are the pillars that support its very existence. As the recent MEP election results have shown, our Europe is at a crossroads.  It can go for more unity and solidarity and move from strength to strength or, turn its back on its values and disintegrate, letting its individual  members  face the onslaught of global tragedies alone while watching other blocs teaming up on its peripheries, nibbling relentlessly at its  soul.