AFM rescue 68 immigrants as Justice Commissioner appeals for solidarity
Charlot Zahra
After a pause of two weeks the journeys of immigrants from the Libyan coast and Malta continued in earnest with the arrival of 68 illegal immigrants late yesterday evening.
The immigrants were intercepted by an Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) patrol boat after being found in distress in rough seas south of Malta.
There were 14 women and seven children among the passengers on board the vessel on which could be seen to be dangerously overcrowded.They were due to land at the AFM Maritime Squardon’s Base in Floriana late last night.
Their interception ends a relative lull this summer, which saw fewer arrivals than last year. On 2 September, the AFM had also saved a group of 84 Somali immigrants in the early hours of the morning, after they were observed in danger due to inclement weather conditions.
Ironically, the latest landing coincided with an appeal for more solidarity among EU Member States made by European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot during yesterday’s plenary session of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg. The subject of the debate was migration, in particular Malta and Italy’s handling of immigrants and the forced repatriation of migrants by Italy.
“EU Member States should show solidarity with those who are most exposed to pressure on the illegal immigrant front,” Barrot told MEPs.
“The challenge of illegal migration cannot be faced solely by those states that are most exposed, but all Member States should feel having solidarity,” the EU Justice Commissioner added.
Barrot recalled the pilot project that was launched in Malta, which budgets funds for Member States that are ready to accept a share of the refugees that are currently hosted in Malta.
“France has accepted 100 refugees that were hosted by Malta,” said Barrot. “I hope that the other Member States follow its example,” the EU Justice Commissioner insisted.
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