Repatriation of migrants starts

The process for the repatriation of 266 illegal immigrants who landed in Malta last week started on Tuesday when 70 were returned to Cairo on a chartered flight, Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela told Parliament yesterday.

He said 10 more were repatriated yesterday and a further 70 leave on another chartered flight today.

Dr Abela thanked the Egyptian government and the Egyptian embassy in Malta for their cooperation, saying Egypt was showing it was a true friend of Malta.

He also thanked the police and the armed forces for their work to make the repatriation possible, as well as the Foreign and Home Affairs ministries. In an adjournment speech Dr Abela said this case showed how the government reacted quickly to repatriate migrants when this was possible.

He said arrivals of illegal migrants this year were a record, but the number of repatriations was also a record. At the same time the government helped migrants who deserved protection.

He said the government was working constantly for other countries to share the burden which the problem of illegal immigration imposed. He said the message was getting through, and he was hopeful that this problem would be eased.