PN MEP Roberta Metsola said today that the world is facing the biggest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War and our message in the European Parliament is that there is a need for a global response to the migration problem.

“This is not just about Europe only any longer but it’s a global issue. We cannot sweep the problem under the carpet and both on an EU and national level, we are doing our utmost to ensure refugees seeking protection are granted protection and separated families reunited,” she said.

She was speaking in La Valette Square in Valletta during a PN activity in the run-up to Independence Day to be celebrated on Monday.

But she lamented the fact that certain EU member states are not pulling the same rope but at least there are others that are giving a helping hand and taking in migrants.

PN MP Tonio Fenech said that international community is trying to solve the issues in Libya for instance using a remote control, opposed to the past which saw concrete intervention on the ground, at times military intervention, in such war-torn countries.

The situation will continue to deteriorate if there’s inactivity by the international community, he added.

He said that the UN was not shouldering responsibility and intervening when it is supposed to do so.

Mr Fenech said that rich Arab countries like Saudi Arabia should play a role in finding a solution to the issue of migration.

Dr Metsola said: “It cannot just be the political party I represent which is pushing to find a consensus but there should be a united front,” she said.

“What can governments do to ensure that people in war-torn countries are given protection which would ensure they don’t need to make perilous journeys across the Mediterranean or try to cross through a barbed wire fence to seek new pastures like is happening in Hungary,” she said. This is the biggest challenge we at the EP are facing,” she highlighted, referring to a long-term response report being discussed within the EP.

PN MP Joe Cassar said that people think Libya is the sole problem but in reality it is problems in Sub-Saharan countries that is leading to the influx of migrants.

“To solve the problem you have to go to the source, he said.

What is the world doing to deal with poverty in certain countries, even ones which are not war-torn? he asked, referring to the supply of medicines and quality water.