UNHCR 'misunderstands' local situation

I refer to the piece 'Open centres are like 'giant car parks'' (The Sunday Times, March 14). Although I had the pleasure of touring some open centres with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)'s regional representative Laurens Jolles, and Laura Boldrini, who accompanied him, it appears from his comments to the media there is some way to go before UNHCR better understands the local situation vis-à-vis the management of illegal immigration.

Mr Jolles found it surprising that the open centres are facing more pressures than they were 10 months ago in terms of conditions and programmes. As I explained to him, during 2009 open centres received the bulk of the record number of arrivals of 2008.

Thanks to speedier asylum determination by the Office of the Refugee Commissioner, we had up to 400 new admissions in one month - not to mention the similarly speedy processing of 2009 cases as well as the reduction in waiting time for the release of 'vulnerable cases'.

The result is that there are around 3,000 people residing in open centres. I am surprised because a high-ranking official of an organisation supposedly well-versed in the dramatic, difficult logistics of managing mass movements of people seemingly did not read the situation he was presented with or even appreciate the challenges faced by Malta.

The regional representative compared the larger centres with a smaller one. Unfortunately, and if he was quoted accurately, he gave the impression that the smaller centres have "dedicated" staff and "genuine interest" in the residents.

I must object to this insult to my staff and that of other entities running accommodation centres. I know each of them to be highly dedicated and committed to their work, often beyond the call of duty.

The open centre mentioned by Mr Jolles in a positive light is one of a national network of 10 open centres. The work of each one is highly appreciated, and I would like to thank the Peace Laboratory, Suret il-Bniedem, and the Malta Emigrants' Commission, who significantly assist the Maltese authorities to manage the huge needs.

Regarding the fact that "nothing happens", I respectfully suggest Mr Jolles visits again and sits with his local staff and with us to discuss what is being done and what has been done since 2002. Yes, more can be done, but it is unfair to suggest "nothing" happens.

We are working on the key integration-related areas: language training, employment and vocational training and cultural orientation, often in close collaboration with NGOs and with valuable financial support from the European Refugee Fund.

We have also worked with the UNHCR over the past years on many initiatives. Our service-users see the best prospects for their own and families' future abroad, and it is not difficult to see why, given the scarce resources here.

It is quite evident the UNHCR still believes integration is a process that can be 'imposed' on immigrants in a foreign country. Those who work with immigrants in Malta know this is make-believe, since many immigrants residing in open centres look at Malta as a stepping stone towards Europe. They are thus primarily and exclusively interested in gathering enough funds to continue their voyage to the European mainland; they simply refuse to take part in integration-related training.

While trusting that this exchange of views will not mar the relations we have built with the UNHCR over the past months, I acknowledge the collaboration and hard work of the local UNHCR office on many initiatives, and hope other future visitors would be better briefed on the challenges Malta is addressing to the best of its limited capacities.