Callum Script story 3
- 1. Hundredsof people are fearedtohave drownedafteraboat carryingup to 700 migrantscapsizedin the MediterraneanSea.The vessel,thoughttobe just70ft long,capsizedatmidnightlocal time in Libyanwaterssouthof the Italianislandof Lampedusa. So far only28 people have beenrescuedand24 bodiesretrieved.Italy'sPrime ministersaiditwasa Europeantragedyandcalledforan extraordinaryEU summitonthe migrantsissue.MatteoRenzi saidhe could notverifythe numberof deaths,butthatit wouldbe a "dramaticamount". 1,600 people have diedattemptingcrossingthisyearsofarand 3,500 diedattemptingtocrosslast year. So howhave major politiciansapproachedthisissue: Labour leaderEdMilibandsaysonTwitter:"Those dyinginthe Mediterraneanare some of the poorestmen,womenandchildreninthe world.We mustact to stopthese awful scenes." DeputyPrime MinisterNickCleggsaysthe EU should"reviewentirelythe arrangementsthatare in place because we justcannot,on moral grounds,have suchlarge numbersof people dyinginsuch regularintervalsinthe Mediterranean." Meanwhile,UKIPleaderNigelFarage saysthe decisionbyBritainandFrance to bombLibyahad destabilisedthe country,leadingtothe refugee crisis.He adds:"I'mthe one personwhohas said that I do think,especiallyforChristiansinthatpartof the world,theynow have almostnowhere to go." I askedthe publicontheiropiniononhow theyshouldtackle the problem.Withcompassionby sendingmore andmore rescue boatsout,riskingmore migrantsattemptingtocrossillegally.Ortry to deterpeople fromdoingitbyrestrictingrescue operationsandincreasingpunishment. Is the disasteraffectingwhichwayyouare goingtovote withhow theyhave approachedthe problem?