Yvette Cooper, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on the plight of migrants in the Mediterranean, said:
“Reports that 400 people have drowned off the coast of Libya as they tried to make their way to Europe are truly dreadful. Desperate people are losing their lives making this perilous journey on overcrowded boats run by criminals.
"This further tragic case shows how immoral and wrong it is for the Government to argue that ‘search and rescue’ operations in the Mediterranean should be stopped in order to deter people from traveling. More and more dangerous, overcrowded boats are coming across. Leaving some people to drown in order to deter others is a shocking and inhumane approach, not worthy of Britain’s long history of helping those whose lives are at risk.
"A comprehensive international approach is urgently needed from the EU working together involving action in North Africa, and assistance to the Italian authorities in the Mediterranean. The British Government should be calling for more EU action to stop this dreadful humanitarian tragedy in our seas, not just arguing that everyone should turn our backs, leaving charities like Medicin Sans Frontiere to pick up the tragic pieces.”
Ends