Majority of asylum seekers in Malta hail from Somalia - NSO

Over 65 per cent of asylum seekers to Malta last year were Somali nationals, while a quarter were Eritreans, according to a survey released by the National Statistics Office in recognition of World Refugee Day, which is being celebrated tomorrow.

A total of 27 boats arrived in Malta last year, carrying 1,890 migrants, the second-highest number in a decade.

During 2012, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner filed 2,080 new applications for international protection - an increase of 10 per cent over the previous year.

More than half these applicants were males aged between 18 and 34. The majority of these applicants, 90.5 per cent, were Africans. Another 9.1 per cent originated from Asia, predominantly from Syria (80.4 per cent).

An increase of 19.7 per cent was recorded in the number of irregular immigrants arriving by boat in 2012 when compared to the previous year. Nearly a third arrived during May.

During 2012, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner processed 1,590 applications: 90.1 per cent were granted a positive decision, while the remaining applications were rejected.

The largest share of applicants who were granted asylum during the year under review were of African origin. An increase of 35.6 per cent was registered in the resident population of Open Centres and other institutional households.

The majority, or 75.1 per cent, of the persons residing in Open Centres were residing in Ħal Far, while a further 18 per cent were in Marsa.

During 2012, 2,256 persons were found to be present illegally in Malta - an increase of 30.6 per cent over the previous year. The majority, over 91 per cent, were African, while a further 5.5 per cent were Asian (mainly Syrian and Pakistani).

Three-quarters of these migrants were aged between 18 and 34. Of the people found to be illegally present in Malta, 568 were returned to their country of origin. A total of 71 per cent of these were returned to African countries, predominantly Libya.

During 2012, 195 persons were refused entry at the Maltese air border. In nearly 27.2 per cent of the cases, these people were stopped because their purpose and conditions of stay were not justified.

Another 25.6 per cent had no sufficient means of subsistence and 22.1 per cent had no valid Visa or residence permit.

Last year, 420 third-country nationals resettled in another country - an increase of 76 persons over 2011. Another 39 persons benefitted from assisted voluntary return programmes.