An international aid organisation, one of many which protested its expulsion from Sudan, has ironically stopped offering its services in the detention facilities in Malta where illegal immigrants are kept.

Medecins Sans Frontiers informed the government that its doctors, nurses and psychologist had stopped offering their routine medical services in the detention facilities.

It is believed that the decision is linked to conditions in the centres.

A spokesman for the organisation said more information would be given in a press conference today, which will coincide with the arrival of EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot.

Mr Barrot will be in Malta to discuss the issue of illegal immigration. He is also expected to visit Lampedusa.

The news of Medecins Sans Frontiers' withdrawal comes at a time when over 600 immigrants landed in Malta in the first two months of the year, unprecedented for the winter season.

The Home Affairs Ministry confirmed the news and expressed surprise at the decision.

"Medecins Sans Frontiers acknowledged in its correspondence with the ministry that, over the past months, there was an improvement in the conditions of the detention centres thanks to the government's efforts and those of the organisation itself. In this context it is difficult to understand why the organisation chose to terminate the commitment it undertook six months ago instead of continuing its valuable work to improve the detention facilities," the ministry said.

Without identifying what the problems where, the ministry insisted the state of the detention facilities was a result of the amount of people housed there.

The ministry reiterated the government's stand in favour of mandatory detention, describing it as the policy that best suited the country.

"While the government is committed to providing help, it is also policy to put illegal immigrants in detention centres for a defined period. The government has maintained its stand even though there have been requests to relax the detention policy," the ministry said.

It reiterated its commitment to collaborate with all those who wanted to participate in the improvement of detention facilities.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

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