Statement on the Migrant Crisis in the Mediterranean from the Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev John Chalmers
“Like many people I have been devastated by the news of the hundreds of deaths of refugees
seeking peace during the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean from Africa into Europe. The
decision by EU Governments, including the UK Government, last year to cut back the humanitarian
search and rescue mission was roundly criticised at the time. It saddens me greatly that the
unheeded warnings about the consequences of not helping those in desperate need have been
proven right.
“I welcome the European Council’s latest agreement on a 10 point plan to tackle this crisis. I now
urge the Government to fully participate in agreeing and resourcing action arising from these
proposals when the European Council holds an extraordinary session to address the situation in the
Mediterranean on Thursday. Many of these actions are to attempt to combat this evil trade in
human beings, but in particular I want to see our Government support the EU’s resettlement
initiative, and offer sanctuary to refugees in need of protection.
“We must recognise many of those making the journey are fleeing persecution, war or desperate
poverty. Who could say that if they were in those shoes they would not risk everything to survive?
These innocents are seeking sanctuary. As human beings, made in God’s image, they have equal
value as you or I, and so we must do all we can to offer love and practical support. The desire for
people to reach the safety of Europe’s shores is a symptom of evil which is ravaging the world, from
criminal gangs involved in human trafficking and people smuggling, to instability and fear in
countries like Syria or Eritrea and the enduring injustice of European prosperity being built on the
exploitation of Africa.
“We look to our Government to offer hope for the future, and to develop, resource and implement a
strategy which does three things: which offers unconditional humanitarian assistance to those who
seek it; which tackles the criminal gangs of people smugglers who are profiting from human misery;
and effective and constructive projects to build peace in the world’s most desperate places. For too
long we’ve wilfully ignored the cries of those in the world who are at the very bottom. It is a tragedy
that it takes deaths on such a scale to get us to realise what is going on. May it also give us hope
that there is a possibility that something can be done.”