Nearly 1,900 irregular immigrants landed on Maltese shores from 27 boats last year, the second highest number in a decade, according to official statistics.
It was 20 per cent higher than in the previous year, the National Statistics Office said in a set of figures released to mark World Refugee Day.
Nearly a third arrived in the month of May and almost all were of African origin. Somali nationals made up 65 per cent, while a quarter were Eritreans.
1,900, The number of irregular immigrants that landed on Maltese shores in 2012
During 2012, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner received 2,080 new applications for international protection – an increase of 10 per cent over the previous year.
More than half of these were for men aged between 18 and 34. The majority, 90.5 per cent, were Africans, of whom 66 per cent were Somalis and 23 per cent were Eritreans.
Another nine per cent originated from Asia, predominantly from Syria.
The Office processed 1,590 applications, of which 901 were accepted.
The resident population in the open centres and other residences increased by 35 per cent, the statistics office said. Ħal Far held three-quarters of all those residing at open centres.
During 2012, 2,256 immigrants were in Malta – an increase of 30 per cent over the previous year.
More than 560 were returned to their country of origin, predominantly Libya.
Last year, 420 third-country nationals were resettled in another country – an increase of 76 over 2011.
Meanwhile, seven voluntary groups working with immigrants called on the Government to look for “alternatives to the long-term detention of asylum seekers”.
The joint statement was by Aditus Foundation, Jesuit Refugee Service, Migrant’s Network for Equality, SOS Malta, Malta Emigrants’ Commission, KOPIN, Integra Foundation, Foundation for Shelter and Support of Migrants and Organisation for Friendship in Diversity.
They said World Refugee Day was an occasion for Malta to look closely at how “we receive asylum seekers and refugees to ensure our laws, policies and procedures are in line with our international legal obligations”.