That encompasses both good and bad.

So while many rue the loss of a holiday lazing on a Mediterranean beach, others regret not being able to take their lives in their hands crossing that sea to find a better, safer life in Europe.

Coronavirus has reduced but not stopped the flow of migrants which normally peaks during the northern summer months.

Indeed, it has made the crossing even more dangerous.

Coinciding with Thursday’s international day against people trafficking, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and Denmark’s Mixed Migration Centre have released a report confirming that reaching the  Mediterranean from Africa and traversing it to Europe remains the most dangerous migration route on the planet.

The latest available figures show that 72 people a month died trying to make the trip.

More than a quarter of those perished trying to cross the Sahara desert before even making the Mediterranean shore.

Thousands suffered rape, torture and other abuse at the hands people traffickers and lamentably the police.

Thousands have been detained under appalling conditions mainly in Libya where no fewer than 43 000 refugees are held.

Thousands are missing and unaccounted for under the waves.

To illustrate the hazards currently experienced, the International Organisation for Migration reports that

three Syrian refugees were shot dead by Libyan officials last Monday when they tried to escape from Al Khums after being dropped there by the Libyan coastguard.

At least 65 refugees from Eritrea, Morocco and Sudan have tested positive for COVID 19 in Malta where they were taken by sailors who plucked them from a 30-hour maritime nightmare. 

Those now in quarantine represent two thirds of the people rescued.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Fillipo Grandi says the situation calls for concerted action by the states in the region with the support of the international community.

That might provide a band aid for the visible wounds.

The real solution lies in making life more tolerable in the home countries of the migrants, so that they don’t feel it is worth risking death to escape.

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They say they’re echoing the call by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The ceasefire call comes from French Foreign Minister Yves le Drian and his counterparts from Germany  Heiko Maas and Italy Luigi Di Mayo.

EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell has endorsed the call which was spurred by the refusal of Tripoli’s  Government of National Accord led by Fayez Al Sarraj to accept an EU blockade of Libya to enforce the United Nations arms embargo.

The government, which is backed by the UN, says the naval action has failed to stop weapons getting through to rebels led by Khalifa Haftar who are bent on occupying the capital. 

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Thousands are fleeing the fighting despite the lockdown against the COVID 19 pandemic.

At least five civilians died and 28 were  wounded in Tripoli this past week when rebels led by Khalifa Haftar launched rockets into the city, hitting homes and health sites.

The UN office in Libya reports a dramatic  increase in indiscriminate shelling.

The UN representatives also report attacks on Tarhuna, 64 kms southeast of Tripoli where Haftar’s forces are sheltering.

There has been collective punishment of the local population with arbitrary arrests of civilians and cuts in gas and electrical power

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The European border guard Frontex is flying over the Mediterranean this morning in search of the dinghy carrying the migrants..

At the weekend, two German boats monitoring those in peril on the sea spotted four craft off the southern coast of Malta.

They had set out from Libya, bound for Italy.

One of them has since arrived at its destination another two are still at sea.

The court dinghy is unaccounted for. 

UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Sami says they fear the missing boat has capsized.

In addition to Frontex, the European Coast Guard and a German Sea Watch vessel are engaged in the search. 

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The ban applies to 150 people rescued by then German NGO Sea Eye a week ago.

The Italian authorities say any rescued migrant hoping to enter Italy must be transferred to another ship where they will be screened and quarantined.

Last week Italy closed its ports to rescue ships from NGOs for the duration of the national health emergency combatting COVID 19..

Authorities say admitting the rescued migrants, without first ascertaining their health status places too much pressure on Italy’s over burdened health service.

Last week Libya, which is currently faced with 700 000 would be migrants, refused top allow re-entry to 280 people who set off the from that North African state and later required rescuing 

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The world organization condemns what it calls the senseless damage of a most needed medical facility.

Libyan rebel leader Khalifa Haftar has broken the ceasefire he entered into to allow medical staff to fight the COVID 19 pandemic.

His forces shelled the Al Khadra General Hospital in Tripoli controlled by the UN-supported Government of National Accord.

UN Human Rights coordinator for Libya Yacoub El Hillo says the attack is a violation of international law.

Haftar, who has close ties with the United States intelligence community, is bent on seizing control of the capital. He has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. 

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It will involve searching ships in the Mediterranean carrying arms off Libya and checking on illegal fuel and oil being smuggled from the war-torn North African country.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says diplomacy cannot work without enforcement action. 

Europe will use its aerial, satellite and maritime assets to ensure the UN arms embargo against Libya is enforced.

A previous attempt to do this was blocked by the then Italian government claiming the use of warships attracted illegal immigrants to its shores.

The EU announcement came as rebels loyal to Khalifa Haftar shelled Tripoli days after agreeing to ceasefire with the Government of National Accord to allow medics to deal with the COVID 19 pandemic  

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Warring parties in the oil-rich North Africa state have also called a ceasefire to enable medical teams to deal with the pandemic.

Countries the world over, including South Africa, are pondering at this time of pandemic over whether to ease prison conditions that are a breeding ground for passing on infections like COVID 19 by reducing the populations.

Ethiopia was the first in Africa to take this step.

Egypt followed close behind. Libya made its decision yesterday

It’s a bold and inevitably controversial step. When does looking after the greater issue like public health trump punishment for crime – however low down the criminal totem pole it falls.

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He describes the pandemic as the common enemy and a threat to all mankind.

Antonio Guterres has instructed the UN Secretary General’s special envoys in every conflict zone to work for a global ceasefire.

This is ahead of a $2-billion appeal he’s making to stop the pandemic spreading into refugee camps caused by fighting around the world.

Libya is leading by example.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord and the Russian-backed rebels led by Khalifa Haftar have agreed to a ceasefire to allow the medics to fight CORONA 19

Guterres says he hopes the ceasefire will become immediate and permanent.

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They agreed on the need for a political settlement and ending military action and foreign interference.

Libyan Government of National Accord head Fayez Al Sarraj came to see President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as chairman of the African Union to discuss political and security developments in his Maghreb state.

They’ll meet again in Brazzaville on Thursday when President Denis Sassou Nguesso chairs the AU High Level Committee on Libya.

The heads of state of  Egypt, Chad and Algeria will also be there.

Since the 2011 killing dictator Muammar Gadaffi, Libya’s disintegration  has been a particular headache for the AU 

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