Almost 70 migrants rescued in Malta SAR region
Mother and son airlifted to hospital
Sixty-seven illegal immigrants, including a pregnant woman and her four-year-old son, were rescued in rough sea by the Russian registered bulk carrier Yelena Shatrova in Malta's search and rescue region, the Armed Forces of Malta said yesterday.
The woman and the boy were later evacuated from the bulk carrier by the Italian Military Mission AB212 SAR helicopter and airlifted to Mater Dei Hospital.
The Italo-Maltese crew on the helicopter was under the command of Major Massimo Bandini. AFM Surgeon Major Giacinto Bartolo and rescuer Lance Bombardier Derek Pepe were lowered onto the vessel to check the state of health of the rescued migrants.
The remaining immigrants were transferred to a patrol boat, which was expected at its base at Haywharf last night.
A spokesman for the AFM said the mid-sea transfer of the immigrants took place about two miles off St Paul's Bay, as weather conditions were not suitable for this operation to take place elsewhere.
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l Galea
Nov 7th 2008, 08:36
Increased burden on us from our taxes, including children allowance for three more illegal immigrant children.
P Debono
Nov 7th 2008, 08:26
How convenient... Notice how every single boat carries a pregnant woman in labour.
If these events aren't co-ordinated then I don't know what is. Wake up and smell the coffee Malta.
d. borg
Nov 6th 2008, 18:54
We are sick and tired of this situation. Now even in stormy weather they will keep on coming knowing that they will be "rescued" by Frontex or AFM. What a worrying situation for our little island and its people. Let's show our disapproval to this govt and EU in the MEP elections next June.
Vincent Zerafa
Nov 6th 2008, 18:19
So this year, Malta has set a new global record... The illegal immigrant arrivals exceeded the local birth rate. Who knows, maybe it will go down in the Guiness book of records!
To make matters worse, Frontex will re-start 'patroling' in January 2009. So this year's record will most probably be broken in a very short while.
Will the burden-sharing pact save us?
louise vella
Nov 6th 2008, 17:43
We now know that the woman who was in labour gave birth to twins. That means :
43 + 67 + 2 = 112. Since the pact was signed no European country has yet offered to share some of these migrants.
David Seychell
Nov 6th 2008, 16:39
"Almost 70 migrants rescued in Malta SAR region"
Why wasn't this reported on TVM yesterday? Why the new arrivals of illegal immigrants is not reported anymore on TVM, Net Tv or One Tv? Is there a cover-up or what?
oliver mallia
Nov 6th 2008, 15:46
@Mr M Muscat
100% right
Joseph Antignolo
Nov 6th 2008, 15:38
Malta is being defeated! Since the signing of the voluntary agreement with the EU member states illegal imigrants in 43+67=110 : illegal imigrants out 0.
Provisional Match result 110 : 0
Chris Ebejer
Nov 6th 2008, 15:28
It will come the day when Malta will have a coloured President or Prime Minister.
Ask the USA Today!
Joe Morana
Nov 6th 2008, 15:10
As long as human traffickers continue to move more and more illegal immigrants out of Africa towards Europe (Malta), and Malta continues to rescue and accept them, this problem will exascerbate itself exponentially. The only solution is to accelerate repatriation as a means of attrition. Therefore, the message to the Maltese Government should be: Repatriate! Repatriate! Repatriate! Or chaos in this small country you will create!
Charles J Buttigieg
Nov 6th 2008, 14:31
@ M. Muscat.
You probably mean side-tracked ( aljenati ) not alienated.
Chris Ebejer
Nov 6th 2008, 14:07
It will come one day when our beloved Malta would be lead by a President or a Prime Minister from their Offspring. Look at the USA Today.
A Vella
Nov 6th 2008, 13:58
You are right. People have lost hope. and the last protest was a flop. It was not well planned and only a few people knew about it and it was announced in the last minute. No publicity at all. There we lost a golden opportunity! What can we do? We can grumble.. feel frustrated but nothing else... the government will still do nothing.
Phil Press
Nov 6th 2008, 13:43
I think the government should revise, it's 30,000. needy families to 30,0001. As no doubt the expectant mothers, husband/partner, is already in Malta. Having arrived by an earlier excursion.
m.muscat
Nov 6th 2008, 12:14
And while we are being alienated by the budget debacle, no mention has been made of this enormous problem which is now spreading also to the winter months. Comments on this blog are on the decrease which is a bad sign as it means that people have lost hope and heart of this problem ever being solved. We go and protest for hikes in our electricity bills but couldn't care less that Malta is allowed to be taken over by foreigners. One day - not very far away- you will regret all this and those responsible will shirk responsibility and hide their face in shame. Quo Vadis Malta.