Yesterday marked World Refugee Day, and with it came a plethora of statistics related to the subject.

In 2013, a total of 2,008 immigrants arrived in Malta on a total of 24 boats, marking a 6.2 % increase over the previous year. Even more shocking is the fact that almost half the arrivals occurred during the month of July, a time typified by calm seas, but blazing sunshine. From a person making the journey’s point of view, at that time of the year it is the safest, but if the vessel’s motor conks out, you are risking a slow death from heatstroke and dehydration.

2013 was the year when the second highest number of arrivals was recorded. The highest number received was in 2008, when a total of 2,775 people arrived. In the 13 years that records have been kept, a total of 18,956 people arrived on our shores, either under their own steam, or having been rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta, or others.

But for every boat load that arrives, there are others who don’t make it. Last year, we saw one tragedy after another as boats capsized just minutes away from rescue. In the sad and tragic events that normally lead up to a capsizing, migrants rush to one side of the boat as soon as they see a rescue ship. The resulting weight and balance shifts, causing the boat to tip. Those caught inside normally have no chance to get out alive – as we have already seen.

Malta has repeatedly tried to save lives at sea, and the real heroes are the AFM personnel who risk their own lives to go out and save others. Once they are here, boat people face more hardship as they are put in detention centres pending their asylum applications.

In 2013, 1,905 applications were processed and out of those, 84.3% were granted international protection. Many came from lawless Somalia and war torn Eritrea.

We keep talking about improving the stock situation in Africa. But after years of colonial rape and pillage, even the most stable of African nations are still in chaos. We, as people living in a modern democracy in Europe, cannot even begin to fathom the terror that people live in. It is no wonder that they try to seek a better life in Europe. People try to escape the horrors of having their daughters abducted, their arms being cut off and the terrible atrocities that are being committed by Islamists, warlords and others.

With the situation in Libya spiralling out of control, matters are only going to get worse as more and more people undertake the journey to the promised land of Europe. Like it or not, Malta is slap bang in the middle and we will be called out to rescue people. These people who arrive here and opt to stay are already forging their own communities. Their children are Maltese, they are part of our nation. Malta is changing. We must accept it and embrace the fact.