The founder of the Peace Lab in Ħal Far, which houses immigrants, is upset because the voluntary organisation is not entitled to milk and yoghurt distributed under an EU food aid scheme.
After being informed by the YMCA that the Peace Lab was eligible for food under the scheme last week, Fr Dionysius Mintoff went to collect the dairy products from YMCA, which is running it. There he was informed that, following a directive issued by the Resources Ministry, milk and yoghurt would not be distributed to immigrants.
"This is discrimination. Why did they strike immigrants off the list? I need the milk and yoghurt because I house 46 immigrants, including children or pregnant women," Fr Mintoff insisted.
A YMCA spokesman explained this was not a matter of discrimination. Some foodstuff, including dairy products, were available in limited supply so the ministry decided to limit the beneficiaries, the spokesman said, adding the Peace Lab was still eligible to other foodstuff in supply, such as jam and sugar.
A Resources Ministry spokesman said that while last year's EU food aid scheme distributed food to a total of 20,000 beneficiaries a year, this year the figure had increased to 20,000 each month.
"YMCA drew our attention to the fact that if they are to provide for the 20,000 beneficiaries... the amount of products distributed to each would be meagre, almost negligible," he said.
Thus, the ministry decided to limit the beneficiaries with regard to products available in limited supplies. "People who present a social security certificate, orphanages and other institutions that care for those unable to take look after themselves are given precedence," he added.
Products available in limited stocks include milk, yoghurt, ricotta, pasta and rice.
Through the scheme, surplus food under the common agricultural policy is given to people in need throughout the EU.
In Malta, goods are handed out once a month to 52 parishes and 50 NGOs which in turn distribute the food to those eligible. The distribution is monitored in order to avoid abuse.