One particular notorious crossing point is the Strait of Gibraltar. This is just a narrow 13 kilometre strip that separates Europe from Africa. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and borders Spain from Morocco.

With little border supervision, this area has acted as a good escape route for immigrants, mainly from Morocco and some West African countries like Senegal, Mali, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Nigeria and Niger, crossing over to European countries. Even with high life-threatening risks lurking in the waters, this has not deterred immigrants, as the numbers keep increasing every day.

Here, it's a case of survival for the fittest. Thousands of people have died of cold and dehydration while trying to raft to Spain's Canary Islands. Others who are not lucky to survive in the rickety crafts have had their bodies tossed into the waters. Just last week, a group of illegal immigrants aboard an over-loaded boat was captured trying to make it to the Canary Islands.

Many of them don't make it alive. People could enter Spain freely until 1991, when a visa requirement was introduced which regulates entry of non-European Union citizens. But now, with the southern border closed, thousands of African immigrants attempt to cross the Strait each year stowed under trucks or in boats. Human traffickers are also doing brisk business there. They lie in wait and shepherd their culprits away. It has become a norm for security patrol officers to stumble upon bodies which have been swept ashore. Yet despite these risks, the numbers of illegal immigrants is shooting up. Why?

This brings me to my point. With all due respect, no person would put himself or herself through these life-threatening risks for fun. These people are running away from poverty and strife, situations that are absolutely not of their own making. I think rather than outright rejection of immigrants, the best the host countries could do is accomodate them.

After all, many countries, including some in Africa are hosting immigrants and refugees from states that are suffering from internal strifes. Take South Africa and Kenya. The total number of undocumented illegals currently residing in South Africa is around 12 million. Kenya has become a safe haven for most refugees from neighbouring countries due to its relative peace and economic stability.

So it's not just the rich countries in the West and the Middle East that are experiencing immigrant issues. But the problem with host countries is that they treat all immigrants as if they are merely illegals, an 'oversight' that obviously conceals the reality that many could be fleeing persecution and grave abuses in their country of origin.

According to reports, migrant workers and their families, totalling 120 million globally, are among the most exploited and the least protected in the world. Europe attracts more migrant workers than any other region. These workers, who mainly come from developing countries are often employed in low skill jobs, particularly in labour intensive industries such as cleaning or the restaurant trade.

They also work long hours, are in unstable employment and are subject to appalling health and safety conditions. Africa and Asia have more youths running away from biting economic hardships than what youths face in the other continents. It is disheartening to say that many host countries have failed to ratify the new international convention on the protection of migrant workers and members of their families, which came into effect in July, 2003.

In the final analysis, we need to realise that the immigration issue is here with us and cannot be ignored. Of course, there should be controls to regulate the entry of foreign nationals into any country, but on the other hand these controls must not be at the expense of the fundamental rights of all persons.