I am very concerned to hear that apart from Malians and Ethiopians, a couple from Eritrea together with their children who were born in Malta are also to be deported.

Our cruel government is sending these people back to their original countries when it is a well-known fact that these countries are not safe. According to Human Rights Watch, Eritrea’s human rights are among the worst in the world and returned migrants are known to face persecution.

According to the same organisation, the human rights climate in Mali has worsened as a result of a significant increase in violence and a marked deterioration in security, notwithstanding the June signing of a peace agreement envisioned to end the military and political crisis in the north.

Attacks and violence have progressively spread from the north into several southern regions and the capital, Bamako.

This means that Mali is not a safe country as the government of Malta would like us to believe. Thus, it is inhumane to send these people back to Africa, especially since they have built a life here in Malta. Also, presently Malta needs labourers and, in fact, we give working visas to scores of people from outside Europe. Why not give the same working visa to these Africans?

At the same time, there are a number of allegations that visas are being issued to many Algerians and Libyans to travel to Malta. So why are we discriminating against Africans coming from the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa?

Another question that I would like to pose to our government is whether these migrants will be refunded the national contribution that they have paid since working in Malta legally. I have a feeling that this will not be the case.

Also, will these migrants be given time to sell their few belongings before leaving Malta? They might need to sell their bicycle, their television set, some furniture and home appliances.

Has anyone thought of this? My gut feeling says no, but I wish that someone from the authorities would answer my questions.