The Italian media on Wednesday reported that its Coast Guard had saved some 1,000 migrants from dinghies close to the Libyan coast. In the past, we were used to sub-Saharan migrants making the treacherous crossing.

But when the Arab spring began, thousands of Tunisians fled the uprising against dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and ended up in Lampedusa in January of 2011. Things settled and returned to ‘normal’, and even when the Libyan uprising against Muammar Gaddafi began, we still saw the usual arrivals from the sub-Sahara – mainly Somalia and Sudan.

Things changed again when the uprising against Bashar al-Assad turned into a bloody full on civil war. We remember the tragedies that unfolded in the Mediterranean where hundreds lost their lives when rickety boats sank to the bottom of the sea with hundreds packed aboard.

The situation in Libya continues to degenerate day after day as the rival factions continue to battle themselves, rather than focus on the rise of extremists who are pledging their allegiance to the Islamic State.

That has now translated into Libyan people fleeing their country, as was evidenced in this latest rescue. While no figures were given, it was made clear that Libyans were amongst those who were rescued by the Italian authorities.

The Italian media also reported a sharp uptick in the amount of people that have tried to cross the Mediterranean so far this year, with figures for 2014 at over 7,000, compared to some 4,000 in 2013.

 It is becoming abundantly clear that human traffickers are gaining more sway and that they are acting with impunity in putting more people on boats to make the crossing over to Europe. The breakdown of law and order has allowed them to gain strength, and now Libyan people are also taking the gamble in trying to cross the Mediterranean.

Libya also announced that 11 of its oil plants are out of commission after being attacked by extremists. The legitimate government appealed for the United Nations to lift an embargo on weaponry such as tanks and aircraft, in the hope that it can organise some force to combat the rise of Islamic terror. It is becoming very clear that we are now reaching the tipping point. It was always said that once Libyans start leaving their country on boats, we would realise that the country has really become a failed state. While there is still some slight semblance of order in parts of the country, others have become lawless lands. Indeed, the potential scenario has already been described by diplomats and experts as being a Somalia on Europe (and Malta’s) doorstep. The world must act now, before it is too late. If Libya fails, then Europe will face waves of refugees trying to find sanctuary from violence in the Maghreb. We are not prepared.