Monday, 1st September 2008
Drop in illegal migration last month
Mother and child: Statistics indicate an increase in the number of females attempting the crossing as well as a rise in the number of children and infants brought ashore. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Official statistics indicate a substantial decline in the number of illegal immigrants brought ashore last month in comparison to July.
On the other hand, the figure is still higher than any other August while July had the highest figure of any month on record.
According to a government headcount, the total number of illegal immigrants brought ashore last month was 505, 289 fewer than the preceding month's 794.
The weather is a significant factor in the number of illegal immigrant arrivals. Last month the conditions were less predictable or stable than in July, explained Colonel Emanuel Mallia, who is in charge of the armed forces' operations in this sector. From experience, he feels the number will continue to decline.
In the past eight months, 2,195 illegal immigrants have been brought ashore. This surpasses all previous annual figures and brings the total number of illegal immigrants to have been landed in Malta to 11,075, amounting to 2.77 per cent of the islands' population.
Criminologist Saviour Formosa has collected data from official statements and compiled it into tables, graphs and maps published on his internet site at www.crimemalta.com.
The statistics indicate an increase in the number of women and children, including infants, making the crossing.
According to the same statistics, the total number of illegal immigrants brought ashore in August was 504. The difference of one illegal immigrant to the government's headcount is negligible and a result of the confusion that arises when processing a boatload.
But Dr Formosa has gone further than official statistics and described a number of incidents. This year, for example, illegal immigrants claimed that 91 have been lost to the sea, 70 of which just last week.
Of the total boatloads, about a third were intercepted metres from the coast. Of these, most made it to Birżebbuġa, Qrendi and Siġġiewi. Others landed at Xlendi, Mellieħa, Floriana, Mġarr (Gozo), Ċirkewwa, Sliema, Marsaxlokk and Delimara.
Also included in the statistics is one incident where, rather than a boat reaching the island, a boatload of migrants attempted to leave.
Clicking on an interactive map launches a pop-up listing a range of information compiled about specific incidents.
Dr Formosa explained that the service aims to assess illegal migration as it develops over time and to help one understand the realities of the occurrence in figures, graphs and maps and from spatial and temporal perspectives.
In general, the website is the result of Dr Formosa's continuous research in the field. It reviews all criminal activities at the macro (national), meso (sub-national) and micro (localised) levels as well as giving information about the supra-macro (international) activities that affect the island.
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ISRAEL DEPORTS AFRICAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Israel has forcibly returned to Egypt dozens of African immigrants who had slipped into the Jewish state, and rights activists say they fear some are refugees who risk torture if Egypt sends them home as expected.
Egyptian security sources said Israel had returned 48 migrants of Eritrean, Sudanese and Senegalese nationality to Egypt this month, and that Cairo planned to deport them all...
Yes there is. That is why you are writing your comment.
Readers' views, if properly argued and well written, will always serve a good purpose. We need to continue to argue against illegal immigration and all the criminal activities associated with this deplorable activity. We need to keep emphasising to the Maltese government the urgency of deporting all illegals to their respective homelands without delay. It has now been amply demonstrated that we form a large majority from all sides of politics, and politicians will have to take note. Deportation is what countries like Israel and Egypt are undertaking presently, and it is imperative that Malta does likewise.
The government and the opposition are doing their job because many of you voted for them just to do that, accepting this influx. If I were in their position and I will know that the maltese people just don't care before the election about this influx, and they still vote for me, I will do just exactly the same.
I urge the PN and MLP just to ignore all this crap and continue doing their duty, by supporting this illegal immigration.That's what your supporters voted you for.
In the meantime, (for those who did not vote), we are being invaded and, we continue being invaded no matter what we all say.There is nothing we can do now.
Besides, while many immigrants are here for economic reasons, many are also fleeing persecution, and sending them back would mean torture or worse (as happened with many Eritreans who were sent back).
3,500 repatriations only prove that what Malta is experiencing amounts to fraud, leading to a net of 11,000+ illegals on tiny Malta presently, and at current rates, this net will keep increasing. This not to mention all the illegalities that spring from this deplorable activity, and the drownings that are reported and those unreported.
This activity has now become a scourge which Malta may not be able to withstand for long, neither physically nor psychologically.
A boatload of 28 Somali illegal immigrants made up of 19 men and the rest females, two of whom are pregnant, were escorted by the Armed Forces of Malta at Wied il-Buni, Birżebbuġa, last night.
No further comment necessary!
So talk of the migrant population reaching 3% of our population in a few months time must be a figment of a.cassar's imagination
Perhaps the politicians are looking for a few more votes to gain in the next election? Let us remember that most of those illegals that are granted refugee status are now eligible to vote in our elections...
In a few months' time the migrant population will reach 3% of the island's population. If that isn't worrying, what is?
What we would like to know is: at what number will Prime Minister Gonzi say "enough is enough".
In the view of many Maltese 11 102 are already more than enough