SOS Malta has dissociated itself from any operations that led to the evacuation of former Libyan minister Omar Fathi bin Shatwan who escaped Misurata to Malta on board a fishing vessel ferrying aid.

The voluntary organisation said it was suspending efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged region until the government guaranteed the transport used was used solely for humanitarian purposes.

SOS Malta confirmed its participation in the domestic effort to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Misurata but “disclaims any ownership or other interest in that vessel as reported in the press”.

It stopped short of referring to the actual vessel and steered clear of mentioning by name the former Libyan energy minister, who arrived in Malta last week.

It disassociated itself from the return journey of the vessel that had left Malta for Misurata on March 29. It said the return trip “may have operated in a non-humanitarian basis”.

The NGO seemed to be particularly irked by the fact that the Al Entisar, the boat that ferried SOS aid to Misurata, was reported to have brought to Malta Mr bin Shatwan, his wife and three children, one of whom holds a British passport.

The ship’s captain, Tarek Tarhuni, said Mr bin Shatwan did not pay for his voyage and the evacuation was “normal” because his family claimed to be British citizens and the ship’s practice was to evacuate foreign nationals still caught up in the conflict.

SOS Malta insisted its involvement was limited solely and exclusively to the delivery of humanitarian aid. “We are happy to learn that all the aid, consisting of medicines and food items, had been safely delivered,” it said.

The organisation participated in only one outward journey on the vessel and “regrettably” would temporarily suspend participation in further efforts until the government guaranteed the transport to Misurata was used for solely humanitarian purposes.

“SOS has and will always adhere to the core principles of humanitarian aid, namely neutrality, impartiality, saving lives and alleviating suffering,” it said.