More injured Libyans may be brought to Malta for treatment as the situation in the north African state worsens.

Addressing a press briefing today, Mario Cutajar, the head of the civil service, said Malta was prepared for any eventuality.

Three Libyans arrived in Malta yesterday night, two of them injured, for treatment at Mater Dei Hospital.

One of the injured, who both are in their 20s, is in a critical condition, the other suffering from grievous injuries.

More might come and the government was in discussions to even have hospital ships if these were needed.

Mr Cutajar said Ta' Kandja and other centres had been cleared to make space in case of need and the government was also in contact with organisations such as the Red Cross about the possibility of setting up tents in Malta.

The government was also managing the harbour to ensure there was enough space for boats to berth.

A crisis centre set up by the government a few months ago had been working 24/7 in the past two weeks and a contingency centre was meeting more than once a day.

The Social Security Ministry was also involved in case of influx of families with children, he said.

Mr Cutajar would not say whether a Libyan minister or council member was currently in Malta but said the security forces were keeping up to date with everyone entering or leaving the country.

Asked about the Maltese still in Libya, he said all had been contacted personally and the government was urging them to return. No evacuation had so far been called and those who opted to return to Malta paid for their own fare.
The 100 or so Maltese still in Libya, he said, were remaining there by choice.

He said that other aircraft would be arriving in Malta from Libya this evening but he was not aware that there were to be any Maltese nationals on it.

Mr Cutajar said the Maltese embassy was working from one instead of two buildings and it was being manned by the ambassador and two consuls.

He said that the situation was now different than it was in 2011 in that then, the Maltese government could communicate with the Libyan council while the situation was now more complicated.

The government was communicating with different sources on the ground which it had built throughout the year.

Mr Cutajar reiterated the government’s decision not to divulge information about Martin Galea, the Maltese oil worker abducted in Libya last week, because of his safety.

The situation, he said was a critical one and discussions were ongoing.