It has been reported that the dramatic picture of three-year old Aylan Kurdi washed ashore on a Turkish beach sent ripples of anger across the globe and led to a surge in donations towards the Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station.

We can no longer remain silent spectators in front of such tragedies on our doorsteps. It is not enough to point our fingers at our political leaders.

We, as European citizens, have to put more pressure and encourage our leaders to take all necessary measures, even at a price, so that such tragedies will come to a halt.

If this is not done, sooner rather than later, and in a coordinated way, where each nation, whatever its size and position, gives its share, then we deserve the blame that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has put on us when he said: “European countries, which have turned the Mediterranean, the cradle of the world’s oldest civilisations, into a cemetery for refugees, share the sin for every refugee who loses their life.”

We have to heed what Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said in a joint press conference with Joseph Muscat: European values are not only about rescuing ailing economies but also about human lives.

These are the leaders we should hail, who, in spite of passing through economic turmoil and great unemployment in their own countries, still offer solidarity and put in the forefront of their agenda humanitarian principles and values. Such also was the reasoning of Chancellor Angela Merkel when she insisted that humanitarian principles require Europe to take in refugees.

This time is a test for Europe, a test for all of us, to put principles into action.

We, as a nation should also speak out loud and show our solidarity with our less fortunate brethren.

Let us as a Catholic nation and also as dignified human beings, offer our share and not wait for our political leaders to take action. This is, after all, everyone’s responsibility.