News | Sunday, 02 August 2009

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Médecins sans Frontières return in migrant centres

Karl Stagno-Navarra
MÉdEcins Sans Frontières (MSF) has resumed its services within the migrant detention services, after having suspended its activities last March in protest with government over the living conditions migrants faced in detention.
According to Msf, its doctors’ activities resumed at Ta’ Kandja detention centre following the Maltese government’s declared commitment to improve migrants’ living conditions and to adopt a more pro-active medical approach.
Last March, Msf lambasted the Maltese government in a damning report that made world headlines, and which was subsequently presented to the European Parliament.
Gabriele Santi, Msf coordinator for Malta, explained that the organisation has reached an agreement with the authorities over what is needed to improve the conditions in detention.
“The current conditions are more hygienic and finally the detention centres are being equipped with isolation areas where sick migrants could be moved and not left to infect the whole compound,” he said.
During its first week since the resumption of services, Msf reportedly conducted 100 medical visits, and assisted immigration police in screening migrants upon arrival on Maltese shores.
With the assistance of Msf doctors, many migrants are undergoing mental health screening and therapy as most are traumatised by the ordeal of spending many days at sea, most having lost friends or family in the process.
However, Msf is expressing concern at the fact that both Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa are not receiving any migrants any more, with the exception of sporadic boatloads from time to time.
According to Msf, forcefully repatriating the migrants to Libya is denying them the right to humanitarian assistance.
“This situation is worrying for us,” said Antonio Virgilio, Msf Chief coordinator for Malta and Italy.
Virgirlio said increased border controls and tightening of the security net by both Malta and Italy was leading would-be refugees to take further risks and trying to make the desperate trip to Europe via very dangerous methods.
According to Msf, 60% of the migrants assisted inside detention centres in Malta were of Somali origin.
One of the interviewed migrants – a 24 year-old Somali – currently held in detention at Hal Far, has reportedly told Msf that he tried to escape Libya three times, when either the boat stalled or was intercepted by Libyan patrol boats, until the fourth time when he finally made it.
In his written report, Antonio Virgilio insists that the migrants held in Malta face a bleak future, as they have nowhere else to go. “This situation is seriously affecting the migrants state of mental health,” he said while urging the Maltese authorities to adopt a more humanistic approach to the migrants’ plight.

ksnavarra@mediatoday.com.mt

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