Reception camp set up in Marsa to house refugees fleeing unrest

The government is preparing for a possible “huge influx” of refugees fleeing Libya, according to the Justice Minister.

“The crisis in Libya isn’t over. There is a civil war, which may present new challenges for Malta as one of the countries close to its border,” Dr Mifsud Bonnici said yesterday.

The minister was shown around the Civil Protection Department premises in Marsa, which has been converted to a reception camp to handle refugees fleeing the unrest. There are nine large blue tents, a long line of mobile toilets and a large dining area.

The place was initially set up to cater for evacuees, in the event of more people passing through Malta than hotels could handle, however, that was never needed and the tents were left in place for the “next phase” – delivering humanitarian aid, according to CPD director Patrick Murgo.

But it was not only asylum seekers the CPD was working around the clock to cater for. It was also raising funds to deliver aid to Libya, mainly in the form of medicines.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici stressed that medical supplies would be available for both sides in the civil war. “Our message is clear: We are friends of the Libyan people,” he said.

The CPD has already raised about €36,000 through the bank account it opened.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said three of the six flights Air Malta planned to operate to fly evacuees on the Tunisian border to Ghana and Chad had already been carried out.