Shocking tragedy of migrants drowning

Dear Editor, I too was haunted by the images of African migrants sinking to their deaths off the coast of Libya. (‘Irish people must raise voices for more humane EU immigration systems IC 23/04/2015)

It was heartening to hear the emergency summit of EU leaders had agreed to triple the funding of its search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean to help cope with the upsurge in migrants.

However, increasing the number of rescue missions is only a temporary solution and does not tackle the issue at the heart of the problem – why people are willing to risk their lives in order to escape their home countries.

Yours etc.,

Paul Gallagher,

Belfast,

Co. Antrim.