New offices from where people who apply for asylum can be given the necessary information about the process have been inaugurated in Safi as part of structural facilities for the Refugees Commissioner

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said asylum seekers included people who came to Malta both by boat and by air, the latter making up more than 500 applications for protection this year. They could not return to their country because of the situation.

He said the investment was intended to facilitate the office’s work.

Last year, the office received around 1,500 applications for international protection, mostly from Libyans, Syrians and Somalis. The offices concluded more than 2,000 cases some of which dated to the previous year.

The office last year recognised 15 people as refugees and gave more than 950 people subsidiary protection. 390 applications were refused.

Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg said this was one of a number of projects all intended to simplify the process. The projects altogether meant an investment of €300, 000 from European funds.