Maltese Government not concerned by Libya’s decision to close UNHCR office

The Maltese government has said that it is not concerned by Libya’s decision to close its UNHCR offices arguing that this decision would have no impact on the arrivals of migrants to Malta.

Libya’s decision to expel the UNHCR raised concern of human rights organizations because in view of the fact that Libya which has not even signed the Geneva convention has no procedure for registering refugees.

No such concern for the human rights of potential asylum seekers was expressed by the Maltese government.

Asked whether the Maltese government was concerned about Libya’s decision a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Tonio Borg replied: “facts show that the number of irregular migrants over the past year has been the lowest in the past three years and this was the result of various meetings between Malta, Libya and Italy”.

The spokesperson added that “one can have an opinion on what happened but certainly there is no study which indicates that the Libyan government’s decision will lead to the flux of more migrants to Malta.”

The move to expel the UNHCR comes against the backdrop of negotiations, which started on 6 June in Tripoli, between Libya and the EU over bilateral cooperation in the control of irregular migration.

“This will leave a huge vacuum for the thousands of refugees and asylum seekers who are there already,” UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Flemming said.

About 9,000 refugees - mainly Palestinians, Iraqis, Sudanese and Somalis - had been registered in Libya, according to UNHCR figures. had been registered in Libya, according to UNHCR figures. In addition, there are 3,700 asylum seekers, mainly from Eritrea.

“This move leaves thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers in a state of limbo with no possibility of presenting their claims for asylum,” said Hassiba Hadj-Sahraoui, deputy director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa programme.

The expulsion has taken on added gravity because of the Italian policy of pushing back refugees who are fleeing North Africa and the Middle East out of Italian waters into Libya, UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

When asked whether the Maltese government still agrees with  the Italian government’s policy to repatriate migrants to Libya, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson replied that “Libya should insist with the European Union to get more help”. 

“This is has happened in the last 5+5 meeting held in Tunis last month,” the Ministry spokesperson said.

Libya’s pivotal role for refugees in the area was highlighted on Sunday, when the UNHCR received a distress call from a boat carrying 20 people, mainly Eritreans, near Malta, Fleming said.

People on the boat, including three women and an 8-year-old, said the dinghy was losing air and in danger of sinking.

The call was passed to the Italian and Maltese authorities but they relied on Libyan vessels to conduct the rescue, which did not take place until late on Monday, in Maltese search and rescue waters some 40 nautical miles from Italy.

“All European governments considering using Libya as a place where people fleeing from war and persecution could be received would have to review this very carefully if UNHCR is no longer present there,” Fleming said.

Alternattiva Demokratika has also expressed its concern on the closure of the UNHCR office in Libya.

“The sudden closure of the UNHCR office in Tripoli on the part of the Libyan authorities is a most worrying affair, that will further endanger the lives and security of people fleeing for humanitarian reasons,” AD’s international affairs spokesperson Arnold Cassola said.

AD Chairperson, Michael Briguglio, has called on Prime Minister Gonzi not to remain silent on the issue, and to intervene with his Libyan counterpart.