'Malta must ensure no lives are lost at sea'

Malta should do its utmost to ensure that no lives are lost at sea even if incidents take place in rescue areas that fall under the jurisdiction of other countries, the Maltese Church said yesterday.

In a statement, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech underlined the need to differentiate between the political problem of illegal immigration and the unfolding human tragedies.

It is the first major public statement by the Church in wake of a series of incidents in the Mediterranean.

Libya has been accused of turning a blind eye to migrants in distress as the Armed Forces and the government insist Malta is not legally bound to save people who are not in its rescue waters. However, Malta has firmly rejected criticism from Europe that it is failing to live up to its humanitarian obligations to go to the aid of such immigrants.

EU interior ministers are today due to discuss Malta's appeal for more solidarity between the EU's 27 member states following a series of refugee crises in the Mediterranean.

While appreciating the difficulties faced by the civil authorities, as well as the efforts made to gain help, the Maltese Church said larger countries should also shoulder some of the burden.

In the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, other EU states should lend a helping hand to Malta so that these immigrants are given the treatment they deserve as human beings, the bishops said.

"The incidents which took place in the last days have saddened all those who value human life... These immigrants are finding themselves in trouble as they try to cross the Mediterranean in the hope of a better life," they said.

The phenomenon of illegal migration puts pressure on the EU especially to assist African countries and help them build economic and political systems that reap benefits for everybody. The message by Mgr Cremona and Mgr Grech was also relayed to the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community "to encourage them to do their utmost with their governments to save human lives".