Refugees embark on new life in Germany
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
A group of 102 refugees left Malta to embark on a new life in Germany this morning. They are from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
The group left Malta as part of the Eurema pilot project which aims to provide solutions in other EU member states for 225 individuals granted status in Malta. Participating countries include France, Germany, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakkia, Romania and the United Kingdom.
In Malta the project is jointly implemented by the Home Affairs Ministry, IOM, UNHCR and the Emigrant’s Commission. The relocation to Germany is the largest yet, following the departure of 92 individuals to France in July this year.
UNHCR Malta is responsible for the identification and initial screening of potential candidates for relocation to the respective participating countries. The assessment process is based on individual needs and agreed selection criteria. It is the receiving countries that take the final decision about who to accept for relocation.
This is the third time that the German government has accepted a number of refugees who have been stranded in Malta for resettlement on humanitarian grounds.
The migrants were seen off by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and German Ambassador Bernd Braun.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that the resettlement was the result of Malta's work in the EU where it managed to obtained an important package through which a number of EU countries were helping the country by sharing the burden.
He also thanked Germany for its gesture.
Mr Braun said that the resettlement to Germany was a sign of German solidarity with Malta and with the refugees.
Around 750 African immigrants living in Malta are in the process of being resettled to the US and several EU countries over the coming 12 months, the UN Refugee Agency said in June. Most are going to the US but France took a group of 92 migrants in April after having taken another large group late last year.
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FRANK MERCIECA
Oct 21st 2010, 19:36
I wish these 102 people all the best in their new country ie. Germany. Nowadays the Germans are very tolerant and compassionate people. I hope they do not condemn Malta for the racism they must have encountered from a sizeable proportion of the Maltese people, as we have a lot to learn in this respect, to bring us in line with 1st. world countries.
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 21st 2010, 18:30
Keep up the good job, Government of Malta, you are doing some great diplomatic work on this front. Once again, well done.
colin stanley
Oct 21st 2010, 16:00
It is obvious, that all these countries, that are taking refugees (and we should thank them ) will choose the best from the lot, skilled, professionals,good conduct, etc. and we will be left, with the rest !!!!!
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 21st 2010, 18:20
It may well be the case but don't be so pessimistic !!
John Abela
Oct 22nd 2010, 06:04
@Jesmond Micallef: It may well not be the case but don't be so unrealistic!
Louise Vella
Oct 21st 2010, 14:41
It's quite a relief to see 102 of them leaving. But what about the effect? Many sub-Saharans waiting in Libya will conclude that Malta is a stepping stone to the German Eldorado. This burden sharing makes Malta more attractive to illegal immigrants.
Maria Azzopardi
Oct 21st 2010, 15:52
it would be a releif to see maltese who have your attitude leaving
Salvinu Vella
Oct 21st 2010, 22:19
Maria Azzopardi hope thatyou leave with the next batch of illegal immigrants since you love them so much.
Maria Azzopardi
Oct 22nd 2010, 14:30
First of all they are not illegal so get your facts straight. Secondly I would much rather live with refugees then with people such as yourself
clayton Zahra
Oct 21st 2010, 14:37
Finally!!
when will we send them all somewhere else so we have a free country again?
Sean Grima
Oct 21st 2010, 15:23
why, aren't you free?
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 21st 2010, 14:09
Keep at it Sean Grima. I positively appreciate your comments on the humansitic issues of immigration. Good man !!
Joe Xuereb
Oct 21st 2010, 14:06
Someone below said 'brother versus brother' giving each other hell. If the situation in Somalia, for example, is so dire for some, it is dire for all. So, if all Somalians left, Big Evil Brother Somalian will have nobody to be versus against. What then? Same argument for Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Leaving Malta is a short-term solution for our islet. Transfer to Germany - after Una Merkel's statements a few days ago - I am not so hopeful. I imagine she would say exactly the same thing today, if asked.
In these situations compassionate people, in Malta and elsewhere, with no agenda other than self-declared humanism, have always existed. It is very easy to spout words about compassion. That is until the compassionate are invited to prove their compassion by putting it into practice, as in out of their own pockets. Then, compassion vanishes into thin air. And these pseudo-compassionate, like their pseudo-anything, they know who they are.
Malta is a very fragile eco-system, with a restricted gene-pool (both physical and cultural). It cannot absorb much infiltration. Otherwise, it goes under. It can take some strong incomers. Non-contributing aliens are anathema to the USA, never mind an islet like Malta.
Jurgen Grech
Oct 22nd 2010, 09:47
Can't agree with you more! That's the point I was trying to prove below! I'm sure more than 80% of us out there share our views...it's the few hippies out there that get all the media attention though!
Sammy Ciantar
Oct 21st 2010, 13:22
All the best to all our African brothers & sisters. I wish you a wonderful life in Germany and hopefully you don't encounter the racism that you had to face while you were here in Malta. your fellow brother from our father Adam, Sammy
Jesmond Micallef
Oct 21st 2010, 11:01
I wish these human beings a successful new begining in Germany. May they enjoy their new home and have fun too while at it. Keep warm thats forsure, the cold German winter bites !!
Germany is a very beautiful country but also Malta, the country that has enabled your relocation.
All the best to you all.
Jurgen Grech
Oct 21st 2010, 10:38
That's the best piece of news Africans still undecided whether to leave for Europe or not can have! Keep the attractions high! Well done! Rather than sending them back to Libya, we're handing them over to our brothers in Europe and keep attracting more illegal immigrants!
Sean Grima
Oct 21st 2010, 10:54
your compassion and sensitivity twoards the suffering of others shines through.
Celine Farrugia
Oct 21st 2010, 11:00
What do you suggest then?...leaving them stranded here for life!
Jurgen Grech
Oct 21st 2010, 11:08
Why should I be sensitive and compassionate towards their problems when their African 'brothers' in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia aren't? I would be sensitive towards their problem if it was European Guerilla Teams wracking havoc in their tribes. It's their problem if it's brother v brother in their country! With so much issues going on in Malta and Europe at this time, it's the least of my concern!
Charmaine Marmara'
Oct 21st 2010, 12:23
well said jurgen , and u sean grima why dont you join them u love them so much u should be their leader u know ....bye bye immigrants , kolla jitnehhew wiehed wiehed ghal xejn qijad tithanbaq sean u tajjar lil maltin .....int mux malti ukol ?? and thanks again to germany but seriously they should be deported to their own country ......
Sean Grima
Oct 21st 2010, 15:26
charmaine - i have no problem in migrants going, voluntarily, to another country. what is important is that they are not sent somewhere against their will and in breach of their rights.
jurgen - they are our brothers too: our brothers are not only white skinned people!
Tony Bonello
Oct 21st 2010, 16:26
Agree with you Sean, I also show compassion to the ignorance of some, which most of them here. I'm sure if you had to ask them what religion the stick to they would declare they are Catholics . If so I believe quite well they either don't practice or they might need a cleaning of ears, as far as I know Jesus said Love one another, and love thy neighbour and you love yourself. Isn't this contradicting with what you guys are saying here. Don't do to others what you don't want others do to you.Apart statistically proven there are more irregular immigrants from the Eastern Block, than Africans. So before speaking out against these people cause of their colour think little.
Martin Cassar
Oct 21st 2010, 17:47
Mr Grima was far from insulting anyone, and I reckon that you should, as Maltese, brush your history. I am sure that we all have had someone who emigrated to Canada, USA, Australia or UK. What about them? These Sub-Saharan Africans fled for their, and their families' lives. How about our forefathers? I don't recall that in Malta there were the atrocities these people have witnessed. Moreover, they are a minority, compared to other immigrants - and the number of Maltese who emigrated. Yet these people fill in an economic niche indispensable to the local labour market. I know the Africans who went away; many of their employers - Maltese - were very sorry they went away.
Perhaps it would be a more useful exercise to get to know these people, before judging them. I am sure that if we were in the same situation, worst things would happen. The Africans are polite and dignified enough to not attack us; they still thank Malta for saving their lives. We should reciprocate that by at least trying to reach out at them.
Joe Camilleri
Oct 21st 2010, 22:18
Martin Cassar of course they were sorry. You would also be if you lost your cheap labour source.
P.Scerri
Oct 22nd 2010, 09:02
Just to brush our history then, the emigrated Maltese left in an organised fashion, the countries who hosted them had their doors open! THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE!
Ironically they are leaving to a country which some days ago echoed that multi cultural society has crumbled! And we have to understand that as each country has it's own identity, we cannot create a coountry or tribe within a country, punto e basta! Personally if you are going into a country learn there ways, learn their language and behave like them ... then you get the respect and 'enter' in the same country's society!
Sorry multicultural never worked and never will! So please people like Sean, if you like to help you are free to do but leave the Maltese identity and nationaism [not party] free ... if you are willing to helpbetter you help missionaries as they are doing a good deed far better in their home land then anything else ...