Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Humanitarian agency slams Malta at EP
Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the international humanitarian assistance agency that pulled out of detention centres in Malta, yesterday took its case to the European stage, presenting a report to the European Parliament.
Addressing the Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, MSF spokesman Antonio Virgilio launched a scathing attack on Malta's detention policy and on conditions in the centres, describing them as "appalling" and as a "threat to human well-being".
Mr Virgilio described Maltese centres as extremely over-crowded, dirty, with not enough showers and, in one particular case, with just one toilet for as many as 55 people. Immigrants, he said, often had to urinate or even defecate in empty containers.
He laid stress on the poor medical services and criticised Malta's failure to provide adequate ones. He cited in particular the lack of pharmacies in centres and said that people with infectious diseases were often left in the same areas or rooms as other persons. In one case, a 14-year-old boy attempted suicide after having been left in detention for five months, he said.
The MSF spokesman warned that detention conditions in Malta could actually become worse.
Simon Busuttil, the only Maltese MEP present for the presentation, called on MSF to reconsider its position and reinstate its services to detention centres in Malta.
Acknowledging the agency's positive contribution to Malta's difficult detention conditions, Dr Busuttil said the agency risked falling into a contradiction when, on the one hand, it denounced conditions and, on the other, it withdrew its humanitarian support precisely when it was most needed.
The humanitarian organisation had explained its decision to quit detention centres (while still offering a service in open centres) by saying its work was being made ineffective due to the absence of pharmacies and proper facilities to isolate people with infectious diseases. It had argued that in the long run it would be supporting a hopeless situation if it remained.
Dr Busuttil yesterday acknowledged that conditions were far from satisfactory but reminded the organisation that the EP had already sent a delegation to visit centres in Malta and MEPs had seen the difficult situation for themselves.
He said that, in its presentation, MSF had failed to point out that the reason for the poor conditions was the sheer number of arriving immigrants and not the result of some political design to degrade people's dignity.
"The numbers by far exceeded Malta's capacity to provide adequate conditions. It stands to reason that if a centre is intended to host a given number of immigrants, conditions would quickly deteriorate if more immigrants arrived and had to be accommodated in the same place," Dr Busuttil said.
Unfortunately, immigrants themselves often made the situation worse as a result of riots that ended up in total destruction of furniture and fittings in centres. This made the ongoing refurbishment programme in centres virtually useless.
Dr Busuttil quoted from a recent report on The Times saying that, in the latest riot, an education centre in a detention centre was ransacked and books, a computer, a projector and other classroom equipment set on fire.
He said the answer to the prevailing conditions was not for MSF to withdraw its services or to condemn Malta but for EU countries to get their act together to manage immigration flows effectively. "To date, this had not been done."
He called on MSF to reconsider its decision to withdraw and to resume its sorely needed support services.
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Mark Seychell
Apr 18th 2009, 19:12
Prosit Dr. Busuttil for standing up for our rights aswell. We have housed these ILLEGAL immigrants, we have fed them, we have took care of them as best we could with the limited resources we have. They on the other hand have thanked us by burning their own mattresses, computers and books. and then the MSF say that we could take care of them more, WITHOUT their help EU, MSF, please help us. I want my country back, and you have no right to use it as a mega detention centre.
Beverley Sciberras
Apr 18th 2009, 12:05
Well done Dr Busittil, for standing up to for Malta and showing the agenda was a political one and using Malta to hide their own faults, I noted no mention of the Maltese and our Religious Groups who are offering our time and money to help support and educate these people, but they don;t want it, THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE IN MALTA so they are using whatever means they can including roiting and destruction of Maltese property, in the hopes that the big EU countries will take them, because of this the few genuine one's suffer too.
lgalea
Apr 18th 2009, 10:41
"with just one toilet for as many as 55 people. Immigrants, he said, often had to urinate or even defecate in empty containers."
Is that so Mr Virgilio?
They do not even have toilets in their own countries. They broke the toilets and washing facilities for the umpteenth time and were always repaired through OUR taxes.
They even had to remove the toilets and make them a simple hole in the ground because they are not used to using toilets. They also defecate in wash hand basins and sinks. Ask the authorities.
We do not need MSF rapping us, MSF should tell the ex-colonialist and colonialist EU countries to shoulder their responsibility and take all our illegal immigrants because they have stolen the illegal immigrants countries of their natural resources and are still doing it.
Charles Sammut
Apr 18th 2009, 09:53
"with just one toilet for as many as 55 people. Immigrants, he said, often had to urinate or even defecate in empty containers."
This demonstartes this man's dishonesty. How many toilets do you find an a passenger plane? An aircraft carrying 150 pax would have 3 toilets. And nobody defecates in the aisle. What is it about these people that they need more toilets than the rest of us? At Marsa I remember the mayor complaining that they need more public toilets because the open centre residents were using telephone boxes and the doorways of private residences as toilets.
It is clearly not a case of a dearth of toilets but rather the reluctance of these people to use them. They have a different culture and according to some we should be grateful for this diversity.
Dennis Zammit`
Apr 17th 2009, 22:10
Does the statement of MSF mean that where ever they operate is better than Malta?
If this is so, There is not need for them around the world as I am sure that places such as Dafur region, the population is surely worse off. Had it been the opposite, then these ILLEGAL Immigrants would not leave their country!!!!!
So MSF, if you wanted to leave, next time find a better excuse.
lgalea
Apr 17th 2009, 19:17
The MSF should stop interfering in our affairs and host all the illegal immigrants to their own countries. Maybe they will host them in a 7-star hotel.
caroline ebejer
Apr 17th 2009, 18:26
Instead of crtising us he should take into consideration that we are a small country with limited means and no resources. Why does he not ask other EU members to take of them!! (since they are insisting we have to take them. Personally i would send them back, after all it's from 'my' tax money that they are being supported)
What happened to the burden sharing? Can someone let me know how many countries have taken some of these illegal immigrants and how many? I only know about those taken on by USA.
So this MSF should try to help us. After all in a 'united family' you help your 'underdog brother' not give him a kick, as MSF and other european counterparts are doing to us Maltese!
O. Sant' Angelo
Apr 17th 2009, 16:52
Well done Dr. Busuttil. Being in a glass house, MSF should think twice about throwing stones...
J.Bonnici
Apr 17th 2009, 16:41
Very well said Dr. Busuttil, well done, you stood up to be counted. On such an important issue for our island were we need all support possible, were the other four Maltese MEP on holiday when really needed to help the cause. They now expect our vote! No way.
C J Zammit
Apr 17th 2009, 16:07
Antonio Virgilio
GO AND HAVE A CHAT WITH YOUR PRESIDENT ABOUT BEING CHARITABLE AND TAKE THE 145 ONBOARD THE TURKISH CARGO SHIP AND PRESENT THEM TO YOUR ITALIAN KIND HEARTED MAN . HE SUGGESTED THAT THE PPEOPLE IN THE EARTHQUAKE AREA PRETEND THEY ARE CAMPING OUT , SO ARE THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN MALTA .
SO STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT MALTA AND NOTE WHAT YOUR COUNTRY IS DOING FIRST.
M Borg
Apr 17th 2009, 15:18
Bravo Dr Busuttil !
Though am a floating voter, i only have admiration for the way Dr Busuttil spoke in defence of our country when we were being attacked 'again' for not doing enough in the closed centres.
Have Mr Antonio Virgilio visited the centres in Lampedusa?
Will Mr Virgilio criticise Minister Frattini for trying to 'dump' the illegal immigrants saved just 40 miles off Lampedusa, on Malta?
Mr Virgilio.......the EU is doing NOTHING to help Malta? Where is the Burden Sharing Agreement? Why haven't MSF criticised this? Instead of Burden Sharing, some Member States like your own (italy) are doing otherwise!!!
louise vella
Apr 17th 2009, 14:54
It is now more than obvious to everybody that MSF came to Malta on a political mission disguised as humanitarian aid.
It is time we started to recognize these ‘Greeks carrying gifts’. Next time a humanitarian or do-gooder organization offers its services, we should examine closely its background and its contacts in Malta.
It would not be surprising if one found that all these organizations have the same contact point in Malta. From their fruit you will know them.
John Spiteri
Apr 17th 2009, 14:41
Who do MSF represent anyhow? better still tell them take some illegals with them.
MSF should know that the victims of the recent earthquake in Italy are still sleeping in tents in the biting cold. why should illegals in Malta be treated better than citizens in Italy?
john fenech
Apr 17th 2009, 13:56
Our friends, MSF are still peeved at the statements of two EU commissioners about Malta’s exacerbate situation with the added influx of visitors in an ever reduced space. May I suggest that the good doctors will set shop on the shores of Benghazi to dispense anti EU euphoria medicine to the European hopefuls; maybe they will change their mind and stay with Colonel. So they will be not subject to our barbarian ways after having put their life’s in jeopardy during their expensive cruise!
Joseph Calleja
Apr 17th 2009, 13:42
It seems like the MSF abandoned ship and they are trying to blame the government and the people of Malta for their inefficiencies. MSF could and should have continued to help these people the best they could and still made their complaints heard. The detention centers are not hotels and yes they are uncomfortable. Malta is having enough trouble trying to supply enough medicine for their citizens let alone for illegal immigrants. If the MSF really wanted to help, they should have stayed and do the best they could instead of leaving. Nobody said that their job was easy and they should not have walked out on these people.
DVella
Apr 17th 2009, 13:20
It is very easy for the pot to call the kettle black . . . since Medicins Sans Frontiers have their origin in France . . . Europe's least densely populated state . . . . they are hardly in any position to criticize the policies and practices which are brough about by the social, demographic, economic and environmental conditions of Europe's MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE. Perhaps they would be better served telling the other European Member states (SUCH AS THEIR OWN FRANCE) to quit dragging their feet on the illegal immigration issue, put their money where their mouth is and start offering some REAL aid and burden sharing for Malta, which apart from being Europe's most densely populated state, is also located on the forwardmost frontier with the countries where these illegals come from!!!!! To put it in a simpler perspective, 4000 (1% of the population) immigrants arriving in Malta would be a national catastrophe . . . the same 4000 immigrants arriving in France wouldn't even be noticed !
Mark Grima
Apr 17th 2009, 13:18
I know the large "send 'em home" brigade who populate this country will disagree, but this situation, as outlined by Medicins Sans Frontieres, is a national disgrace. I am officially ashamed to be a citizen of this country. By all means, let us put resources into preventing the influx of immigrants, as well as mechanisms for repatriation, or re-settlement elsewhere (many thanks to the USA on this score, by the way). But let us provide a minimum standard of housing and health-care to those who need it. That includes our own citizens as well as illegal immigrants. Frankly, our right to call ourselves a civilised society is challenged by the current situation. And let's not hear all the bleating from the "I'm not a racist, but" fraternity about the costs involved. Millions disappear from the VAT department and the government doesn't even notice.
g. scerri
Apr 17th 2009, 12:45
Well argued Simon. Prosit.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 17th 2009, 12:28
'He said that, in its presentation, MSF had failed to point out that the reason for the poor conditions was the sheer number of arriving immigrants and not the result of some political design to degrade people's dignity.'
Exactly.
lgalea
Apr 17th 2009, 12:19
They should put their money where their mouth is and take all our illegal immigrants to their own countries.
After all, they all come from ex-colonialist countries who have robbed their ex-colonies of their riches and natural resources and are still doing it through their multinationals.
Lee Micallef
Apr 17th 2009, 11:51
Maybe Mr Antonio Virgilio would prefer if we put them up in luxury 5star hotels >? Or if hes so appalled why doesnt he be the good samaritan that he is and offer them his home for a few weeks ? ... hmm thought not !
Like Dr Busuttil states Malta is no way near being prepared for mass invasion, and when what little facilities are their for them .... they go and smash everything up ! Simple fact is if they dont like it they can easily go back to whence they came !
Nigel Lawrence
Apr 17th 2009, 11:09
Mr Virgilio described Maltese centres as extremely over-crowded---
And they'll be even MORE overcrowded when the sailing season gets into full swing. Obviously the MSF expects us to welcome illegal immigrants with open arms and a five star hotel.
M.Degiorgio
Apr 17th 2009, 11:03
I suppose MSF would prefer Malta to do like France, when France artificially made the overwhelming clandestine problem at Calais disappear by closing down Sangatte a few years back. the result was that today, illegal immigrants are roaming the streets, causing havoc and sleeping in containers, under bridges or plastic bags and so on. Unfortunately, Malta Malta does not have the luxury to apply this hypocrite solution due to it's size, secondly the solution is back firing and today the authorities are looking for other solutions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5007578/Detention-centre-planned-for-illegal-immigrants-in-Calais.html
H Dempster
Apr 17th 2009, 10:42
Who the hell does Mr Antonio Virgilio think he is to tell me how i treat an un wanted guest in my Home. Is he paying my rent and my taxes. He should do his utmost to persuade the illigal immigrants to leave Malta. After all we dont know who they are and maybe could be relatives to the pirates opreating off Somalia. Mr Virgilio PLEASE LEave US ALONE AND GO ELSE WHERE.
Joanne Micallef
Apr 17th 2009, 10:27
First and foremost thank God that at least there was Simon Busuttil to defend our case, secondly this is clearly an attempt to close down our detention centres, since it is of no surprise for anyone that the NGO's are against the detention policy. The fact that the EP had sent a delegation to visit our centres will hopefully help plead our case, and like Simon Busuttil rightly pointed out the numbers by far exceeded Malta's capacity to provide adequate conditions.