REFUGEE TRAGEDY AT LAMPEDUSA

That this House is shocked at the deaths of 274 refugees off the island of Lampedusa; recognises that this is the latest in a long line of tragedies where 20,000 desperate refugees have died in unsafe vessels in the Mediterranean; and reminds all EU states that they have obligations under the Geneva Convention to provide a place of safety for asylum seekers and that the tragedy of drowning has to be met with humanity and concern not xenophobia against victims of poverty and oppression.