Somalis in Malta hope for a new beginning
Some 250 Somali refugees in Malta have welcomed the recent elections in their home country and the appointment of President Hassan Sheik Mahmoud, saying it is a sign of hope for a new beginning.
The UNHCR said the refugees held a celebration in Floriana on Saturday to mark the developments in their country.
"Most of the Somali refugees who have arrived in Malta are relatively young people who have only known the brutality of war and the daily terror that violence brings with it. But on Saturday one Somali elder told the audience that another reality is possible," UNHCR Malta said.
“The Somali community in Malta has now understood what peace is,” a migrant said. “Peace is happiness and life.”
“We are here today to express our solidarity with the new government and we sincerely hope that it will bring lasting peace, unity, justice and respect for human rights which we have been dreaming about for decades.”
Somalia has been without an effective central government since 1991 and its four million people lack food and security. There are around 1.46 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and thousands have fled the country in search of safety. In Kenya alone there are almost half a million Somali refugees.
Somalis also constitute the largest immigrant community in Malta.
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Wenzu Vella
Oct 17th 2012, 07:51
They should all go back to help build their country for the good of all.
Pippo De Marco
Oct 16th 2012, 20:16
They are so happy that things are getting back to normal in their own country that they have decided to stay here.
Darren Portelli
Oct 16th 2012, 19:59
The hypocrites here continue to astonish me. When Malta took in blonde oprhans from Chernobyl, or welcomed blonde adult sex workers, no one complained.
Elisa Grech
Oct 16th 2012, 19:51
So now that you have learnt and experienced peace, go and preach it to your fellow countrymen. Go and inspire your New Government otherwise what is the use of holding a celebration here ? You would be able to express and effect your solidarity with your New Government back in your own country not while here in Malta which is so far away. Only in that way will you show your genuineness.
Shaun Anthony Camilleri
Oct 16th 2012, 17:52
So are they going back then?
Charles W. Sammut
Oct 16th 2012, 16:13
Vast areas of Somalia are now safe. These people should be repatriated to help rebuild their country. We have heard many times over from NGOs that these are mostly professional people such as architects, engineers, doctors, teachers and so on. To keep them here is a crime when their country needs their services so much.
Godfrey Pisani
Oct 17th 2012, 07:27
Rightly so let's help them make it back to their country so they live in peace
anthony sultana
Oct 16th 2012, 15:23
They never metion they will go back, they must like it here.
GL Calleja
Oct 16th 2012, 15:13
So why don't you all go back to Somalia? You can all preach and practice peace and serenity in your country now that you know what it is like. Go and help your fellow countrymen turn Somalia into a peaceful country and leave us alone. Ghada fil-ghodu.
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