Eritrean Bishop Calls for Gospel Values in Refugee Resettlement Programs
(05 Sept 09-RV) “The right to asylum is a basic European value” said the EU’s top
justice official this week as he unveiled a new resettlement program to member states.
It would put in place a voluntary refugee resettlement scheme across the bloc's 27
nations. So far, it's mostly the EU's southernmost members that have to deal with
an unending influx of illegal immigrants and genuine asylum seekers. Hailing mainly
from Africa, they are crossing the Mediterranean in small makeshift boats and rafts
to reach Italy, Malta or Spain. Many of those refugees are drowning while trying to
reach for a better life. Only last week 73 migrants from Eritrea died from hunger
and thirst while trying to reach Europe from North Africa. Festus Tarawaille spoke
to Bishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam of the Ethiopian Eparchy of Asmara in Eritrea, who
was shocked to hear that vessels passed his dying countrymen by and none stopped to
help them: