A great feat but outlook grave - Med rescue missions

THE Government’s decision to send ships of the Irish Navy to aid the refugee rescue mission in the hazardous waters of the Mediterranean has been vindicated long before now but a high mark was seen yesterday when the number of people rescued topped the extraordinary level of 10,000 lives saved. 

For this fantastic humanitarian feat, great credit is due to the crew members of the naval ships involved in the mission, the LE Róisín, Niamh, Eithne, and the Samuel Beckett.

The men and women of the Navy have gone quietly and efficiently about their crucial business of saving people from drowning , thus performing an important role as ambassadors for their country.

Meanwhile, European governments continue to squabble over of the arrival of so many refugees on their doorstep fleeing the war zones of the Middle East and Africa. This exodus of biblical proportions will follow the dream of finding safety, work, and a better life in Europe.

Until such crises as the wars in Syria and Libya and the slaughter of citizens by IS in other wartorn areas are brought to an end, the flood of refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean in ramshackle vessels will continue unabated. With right-wing politicians determined to prevent the freedom of movement between European states, the outlook for refugees is indeed grave and the urgency of the Irish naval mission will not diminish.