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AFM rescues 97 migrants off Marsaxlokk, baby on board [VIDEO]
Armed Forces of Malta in rescue operation to bring in over 90 migrants, including a three-month old baby.
15 July 2013, 12:00am
Miriam Dalli
Miriam Dalli
1 min read
A three-month old baby was among the group rescued this evening by the AFM.
A total of 97 migrants arrived to Hay Wharf late in the night, escorted by the Armed Forces of Malta.
The arrivals included a newborn of three months and five women, one of which is heavily pregnant.
Informed sources told MaltaToday the boat carrying the migrants was at seven nautical miles off Marsaxlokk and the AFM had to transfer them onto of its patrol boats as the boat was taking in water.
A separate group estimated to be carrying some 200 migrants kept going on.
UNHCR statistics put the total number of asylum seekers who have arrived in Malta during the first half of 2013 at 600.
The unofficial estimate of total asylum seekers who have made a claim for protection, when one adds last week's arrivals, totals 900 - a number which is not too high when compared to figures for recent years.
The year with the largest number of arrivals to Malta was 2008, with 2,775 people reaching our shores in 84 boats.
Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...
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Dear boat people welcome to our lovely island. A word of warning, beware of our monster of PM and his racist heathen hordes. These are the uneducated, uncultured who speak a goulash tripe called Maltese. In the past they were referred to as marmalja now their sobriquet is hamalli. These instigated by that ogre of Joseph Muscat want to send you back from where you came.
There is no need for concern though because we the Liberals, fighters for human rights, the intellectuals and of course the church will defend you tooth and nail. Please rest assured of you safety because defending you there are people like Saviour Balzan, James Debono, Michael Falzon, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Simon Busttil and the three bishops no less. Well actually two because one is an Arcbishop.
You are in very safe and capable hands. ONE LAST THING, PLEASE KEEP AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM OUR BACK YARDS. AFTER ALL STANDARDS HAVE TO BE KEPT
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I find it amusing for Miriam Dalli and others to give us the "news" that there was a baby and pregnant women on illegal immigrants'boats. This is not news any more. It would be news if a boat arrived without babies, children and pregnant women. Every boat nowadays has a percentage of these. Before there used to be men only on boats; but men cannot usually get pregnant and they don't even breastfeed - at least as far as I know.
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Welcome home!! by the way! who's home?? my home? your home?
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AFM should be given all praise for the sterling work they do saving these persons and risking their lives everyday. For what its worth, Prosit guys we appreciate it, and will never forget you.
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Malta Taghna Lkoll u issa qed tispicca ta' dawn ukoll.
Lawrence Covin •
Aqtugha din tar-'RESCUED'. Salvati meta hadu hajjithom f'idejn, u pperikolaw lit-trabi? Ibdew uzaw 'TQNNAJNA' b'numru iehor.
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Is this what our forefathers fought for.
The end of Malta as we know it.
Those primates destroyed every square meter of land they owned, now they are searching for greener pasture.
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Someone once said that Malta is a third world African Country that thinks it's European, how prophetic that person was!
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With all the sophisticated equipment that exists, can't the Might gods of the EU trace them when they leave land, or there is some hidden mighty hand helping these people??? Can't the UNHCR go and help them in their respective countries? can't the Might EU stop this, or it was for that reason that Malta was allowed to join, serving as the EU "SKIP". Its high time we do a referendum and the Maltese will decide whether or not to stay in the EU. What are we getting from this club that we can't do without? Having we lived to a very high standard on our own? Since we joined the disadvantages are very high compared to the advantages. For sure we lost our most treasured independence.
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This is all thanks to the brotherhood that exists in the cursed EU Club
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The new Maltese.
