Immigrants taste freedom...in tents

Scores of irregular immigrants who have just been released from detention centres have requested to be taken back after they were hurriedly accommodated in tents set up in a field in the middle of nowhere.

Over the weekend, a total of 82 immigrants were shifted to a dry field in Hal Far, adjacent to a scrap yard, some 500 metres away from Lyster Barracks. But living in a tent camp is not their idea of freedom.

Dozens of beds, most of which with no sheets or pillows, were placed under three tents erected in the field. A generator in the middle of the field gives improvised lighting and a number of mobile toilets as well as food and water are provided.

The Social Solidarity Ministry, which is responsible for immigrants in open centres, said the premises were needed ahead of time since large numbers are being released from detention at a faster rate.

The centre is envisaged to be a "semi-permanent" one, accommodating more immigrants in the near future should the present patterns of both arrivals and releases continue.

"Work was already planned and is currently ongoing to bring this site up to the necessary basic standards," the ministry said.

But the immigrants who spoke to The Times yesterday deemed the conditions to be even more substandard than the detention camps, with many saying that the dry grass presented a fire hazard.

By noon yesterday, several had tried to find accommodation at the other open centres, especially the one in Marsa. But manager Terry Gosden said his centre was packed with 600 immigrants and could simply not accommodate any more.

"I advised these individuals not to come here because it will become unhygienic and unsafe. It will make the running of this place difficult. I have no choice but to take them back to the field," he said.

The Emigrants Commission in Valletta was overwhelmed yesterday morning as several immigrants tried to seek help or else went to collect their allowance.

"This is the first time they have been accommodated in tents. It would have been nice if these people were granted better living conditions once they were released," Mgr. Philip Calleja from the Emigrants Commission said.

On Sunday night, the immigrants were forced to light a fire in the middle of the field to keep warm, amid the barking of dogs in the nearby scrap yard. Ashinafi Bulto, a 32-year old Ethiopian, complained that the tents were transformed into a cauldron during the day and a freezer at night.

"They told us there are too many people in the open centres but this is no way to keep human beings," cried Mr Bulto, a mechanic by profession.

"I would like to leave but where do I go with no money and no assistance? Malta is a Christian country so why is nobody providing us with help and why is there no coordination? Some people come here and offer us hope but we would really appreciate it if someone were to offer us solutions as well."

A 24-year old Eritrean who walked from Hal-Far to Valletta claimed his plea to be transferred to another open centre was turned down.

An immigrant who claimed to be from the Darfur region in Sudan said he wanted to leave for any other European country. But a 23-year-old Somali who has been in Malta for nine months said there is little hope for refugees.

"I know of some people who escaped from Malta and went to countries like Italy and Sweden but they were sent back," he said.

The Somali added: "We weren't told how long we're going to be in the field. It was better in the detention camps where at least we were given food regularly, where we had clean toilets and we could watch television. Besides, what are we expected to do when people are sick around here?"

A spokesman for the Social Solidarity Ministry said a total of 1,217 individuals were being housed in seven open accommodation centres run by both government and NGOs.

"The government took the decision to set up another open centre where persons will be accommodated in tents with all necessary services available on site," the ministry said. Three of the 85 immigrants released over the weekend were women and were accommodated at the Appogg open centre.

"It is a known fact that Malta has seen an increase in immigrants over the years and therefore, the numbers in open centres rise accordingly. This is further complicated by the fact that the actual number of persons who are repatriated is far less than those who are actually rejected. The numbers moving out of open centres remains very low and very few vacancies actually occur." Asked whether the release of the Africans could have been suspended until decent accomodation was provided, the ministry said this was impossible.

"It is a well-known fact that immigrants have been clamouring for their release from detention. They have insisted on the need for the process of status applications to be speeded up. This is what has happened. It would be illegal for the authorities to keep them further in detention once they have been recommended for status by the Refugee Commissioner or the Refugee Appeals Board."

The ministry said that work was underway to turn a site into an adequate open centre. However, due to the large numbers of immigrants released over the past weeks, work was halted in its tracks in order to provide them with quick accommodation. Now that the first efforts have been made to provide their basic needs, work will continue as planned, the ministry added.

It said the new "open centre" at Hal Far provides them with portable showers, including hot water and toilet facilities on the premises which are cleaned daily. Immigrants in open centres have access to polyclinics for their medical needs.

Red Cross director general Paul Portelli made it clear the Red Cross was prepared to step in and assist the immigrants if it was given the necessary backing from the government.

But he insisted that the makeshift accommodation was clearly the result of lack of planning.