Once again, Europe mourns migrant tragedies. Deaths caused by shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. Deaths caused by criminals who enrich themselves from the sufferings of human beings.  In the past few years, about 5,000 immigrants have died during crossings in the Mediterranean organised by unscrupulous people, who make money from human trafficking.

The migrants embark on these ships of shame and are dumped like animals or goods before they even reach the shore.  The current situation is dreadful, not only for the ever-increasing landings and the continuous shipwrecks but above all, for what cannot be done.

The degeneration of the phenomenon is becoming uncontrollable.

The international community had to intervene at least 15 years ago in these countries, by creating appropriate conditions like raising the quality of life, economic conditions and health services and political stability.

Many of these immigrants arrive on European shores, but especially in Italy, by any available means concealed by their executioners.  Enduring hardships, violence and humiliation, they even lose their lives during crossings they think are their “journey of hope”.

Recently, we are seeing a sharp increase in the phenomenon of illegal immigration.  The reasons are not only due to ongoing conflicts, but also to the difference in the degree of well-being between developing and developed states. There is not a day that desperate men and women who have nothing to lose, coming from various parts of the world and especially north and sub-Saharan Africa, seek to embark on these decrepit sea carts that will take them to the unknown… towards what they believe is salvation.

Other contributing factors include the lack of job opportunities in their country and the hope of finding well-being in the country of their destination.  This is not what is often found once they disembark.

We should promote policies for a dignified hospitality for men and women fleeing their homeland in search of a better future

The economic crisis that is affecting most of Europe and the increasing number of immigrants is not creating jobs. Organised crime in the countries of embarkation operate these voyages of death and make the problems even more dramatic.  The migrants, after being brought to the destination countries, are often embedded in the criminal world and exploited as sources of new illegal profits such as prostitution, drug peddling, theft, begging or illegal work, among others.

As in most countries that see embarkations, people have their concerns.  Many think that illegal immigrants should be sent back to their countries of origin. Others believe it is better to give them shelter because they would try the journey again as soon possible facing increasing risks.  I’m sure that if we do not arrive at a political solution soon to the problem, this will multiply to the umpteenth degree.

We should promote policies for a dignified hospitality for these men and women fleeing their homeland in search of a better future for themselves and their children, who want to come to Europe to work legally and to become part of our society, by respecting its laws and culture.

This does not mean to open the doors wide to uncontrolled immigration but, rather, to govern the phenomenon, reconciling the reasons of legality with those of hospitality, the reasons for the security with those of solidarity.

The Maltese, although to a limited extent being “geographically a small country”, together with the Italians that have a greater exposure to phenomenon of migration, are doing everything possible to prevent these sea massacres.

The reception centres are overcrowded and the relevant laws that hold them are not adequate enough to be able to deal with this difficult problem.

It is possible to govern migration, operating intelligently and with humanity, issuing residence permits only if foreigners are in possession of an employment contract that enables them to have the means of subsistence, decent housing and the money needed for their return home.

Another effective solution would be to send help to the countries of origin. These could consist of resources and specialised personnel, the required infrastructure and advanced techniques that can be employed to solve local problems.

The fact remains that many Europeans are still very diffident of the “diverse” and we have forgotten that in history, a sad chapter of immigration was written.

One cannot forget the great ships and the overcrowded trains that started from various countries especially those in southern Europe, to go looking for a better life in other countries like America.  Thousands of unfortunates with cardboard suitcases were ready to leave their country for adventure.  People who accepted menial jobs in order to survive.

Now history repeats itself with the only difference being that the world’s poor, at least to a large extent, are not those found in European countries, apart from some eastern countries that are in a phase of economic recovery, but in countries in north and Sub-Saharan Africa that, due to the ongoing conflicts, flee their countries in search of a decent life which seems their only means of survival.

It is a human and social phenomenon that will continue to accompany us in the coming years.

Elaine Camilleri Schembri is a Nationalist Party councillor in Luqa and a general election candidate.