As the images unfold of the reality of the refugee crisis, Europe is busy squabbling over numbers of how many people should be "let in". The heart- rending image of the little Syrian toddler washed ashore yesterday brought home the unprecedented tragedy and hardship that refugees are facing.
3-year-old Aylan Kurdi from the Kurdish-Syrian city of Kobane was believed to be one of at least 12 Syrians trying to reach Greece who died when their boats sank.
The young boy's father Abdullah Kurdi was the only survivor amongst his family having lost both his wife, Aylan and another son Galap from this tragedy. Despite the reaction worldwide there has been little show of change from European Leaders.
Justin Forsyth, chief executive of the charity Save the Children, said the "tragic image" was a reminder of "the dangers children and families are taking in search of a better life, "This child's plight should concentrate minds and force the EU to come together and agree to a plan to tackle the refugee crisis," he added.
Forsyth is right, this child's plight is something that should bring it home to the EU. It is sad that it has taken a tragic image of the reality to get people talking about taking immediate action. However, if this image does not spur our PM to do something then nothing will. What some people fail to understand is that we cannot even call these families and children 'migrants' as they are coming because they are fleeing oppression, they are trying to save their loved ones from tyrannical governments, war and bloodshed. Frankly, no one would be able to put up with the hardship that they have faced, given the years of war and turmoil that innocent civilians have had the brunt of in the Middle East. All these people want is an end to living in fear, stability in their lives and safety for their kids. Is that really too much to ask?
Mr David Cameron, I urge you as a British citizen, who does not want to stand back and do nothing in the face of humanity, please allow these refugees the shelter and care they need. We cannot sit back as a diverse nation in the UK and stay silent and we will not. We have to put ourselves in their shoes, as a parent of children, we want to protect our kids and give them a good life. What if we were fleeing oppression and were so desperate that we tried to enter into another country and were being refused? What if we lost a loved one from trying to escape oppression? Mr Cameron please think about this and take a leaf out of Germany's book.
Thankfully, our neighbours in Germany have set an great example by welcoming Syrians giving them donations of food, toys and clothing and a warm welcome as they enter the country. Angela Merkel had pressed for new quotas on spread out the refugees in Europe and said, "Europe as a whole must move and its states must share the responsibility for refugees seeking asylum" .
Merkel further stated that, "Universal civil rights so far have been closely linked with Europe and its history it was one of the founding motives of the European Union," she said. "If Europe fails on the question of refugees, this close connection with universal civil rights ... will be destroyed and it won't be the Europe we want."
For the sake of humanity and with a compassionate heart I too hope that Europe will share their responsibility and that the UK will make a positive change in helping those who are in dire need of our help.