Not to ‘profit from evil’

After months of wrangling, the UN Security Council was able at last, on Friday, to adopt a resolution authorising the EU and other countries to use force to seize migrant-smuggling vessels on the high seas, off Libya, to prevent them from reaching the shores of European countries.

As the British ambassador to the UN said, “people cannot profit from this evil”.

The resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorises the deployment of force. Now countries can use military means to stop smugglers from transporting people for a profit.

The resolution made sure, however, to specify that boarding vessels are also to save the lives of migrants and victims of trafficking, calling for them to be treated “with humanity and dignity”.

Nearly 3,000 people died during 2015 crossing the Mediterranean in search of better places to live. Something had to be done to stop these senseless deaths.

Unlike the refugees crossing from Turkey to Greece and onward to the heartland of Europe, who are, in their majority, Syrians fleeing the war and destruction in their country, many of the migrants crossing the Mediterranean from the Libyan shores are economic migrants seeking job opportunities in Europe.

Of course the ultimate solution to the migrant and refugee crisis requires a holistic approach, and relying on military means to deal with it would never suffice.

As long as there is oppression and denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, people will continue to seek refuge in other countries, no matter the cost.

And as long as there is widespread poverty and unemployment, and no hope for the future, there is no lasting way to stop people from crossing borders in search of decent living conditions.

The UN resolution will help in some little measure stem the flow of humanity across the sea, but mankind needs to do much more to ensure that people stay in their countries because they can live there freely and in dignity.