Ministry denies migrants being left in the streets

The Ministry of Home Affairs said this evening that migrants entered open centres under a residence agreement of one year which was then extended for periods of four months each depending on their circumstances.

Replying to newspaper reports, the ministry said migrants were not forced to live on the streets at the expiry of the residence agreements and they continued to be assisted even when they left the open centres.

In a long statement, the ministry explained that the open centres were meant to be places which offered temporary shelter until migrants could stand on their own feet and integrate in society. The term of residence at the open centres had to be definite so that the migrants would not get used to living in an institutionalised environment without fending for themselves, and to create space for others.

While there were a number of open centres, vulnerable persons and children were not accommodated under tents at Hal Far. Although the definite residence period also applied for families and single parents with young children, none were asked to leave at the expiry of their term until officials ensured that they had alternative accommodation.

The ministry said a letter published in the newspapers today appeared to have been addressed to a Hal Far resident who had lived in the open centre for two years and four months, meaning this person had stayed there for the normal one year and then been given at least four, four month extensions.

All those people who had their residence agreement terminated in the past two months had all lived in open centres for at least a year and four months.

The policy adopted by the open centres was that while migrants were initially assisted in accommodation, food, finding work and medical services, they then had to start fending for themselves.

Furthermore, those who were not eligible for protection could apply for assistance to return to their countries.

In all cases, the authorities continued to help the migrants who left the open centres through social services, health and medical services.

The ministry said the definite residence terms for open centres had existed since the first open centre was set up, and in the year to April 20, 2009, 2,381 residence agreements were terminated when the migrants either opted to leave, or they were found to have alternative accommodation,

The system, therefore, worked well, the ministry said.