There are 64 Maltese nationals scattered all over Libya who want to return to Malta, the Foreign Ministry said this evening.

It said In a statement it was working continuously to give Maltese in Libya all the required assistance.

The call centre, with freephone 8007 2203, received more than 1,000 calls. Hundreds of e-mails were also received on info.mfa@gov.mt .

Information gathered until this afternoon indicated there were 64 Maltese nationals all over Libya who wished to return to Malta. There was the possibility that they would be collected through flights, vehicle trips and ferry crossings. The ministry was also in contact with these people’s families in Malta.

The ministry said that 13 Maltese nationals were on the way to Malta on a ship commissioned by Chine and four were on a Catamaran commissioned by the US government. The 17 should be arriving this evening. Several other Maltese arrived in Malta on several flights during the day. Four are expected to arrive later today on a private flight.

A cruise liner chartered by a Brazilian company and carrying 3,000 people from Brazil, Vietnam and Thailand is also expected.

A total of 69 unscheduled flights arrived in Malta since Monday. The flights were organised by several countries included Austria, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Romania, Germany, Poland and Canada.