The Home Affairs Ministry has hit out at a report published in Brussels by Médecins Sans Frontières, saying the organisation was persisting in criticising Malta "in the most unfair manner" by publishing a dramatised report which was nothing more than thinly-veiled attack on Malta’s detention policy - a matter outside of MSF’s remit.

In a long rebuttal, the ministry said the reason behind Malta’s detention policy was not to deter the arrival of more illegal immigrants, but rather to safeguard the country’s security.

"It should be borne in mind that practically all illegal immigrants reach Malta undocumented, and proper identification is by no means easy. This should also make it clear that detention is not intended as a form of punishment," the ministry said.

"The Maltese authorities also distinguish between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers who enter the country illegally. In fact, the Maltese system foresees a maximum detention period of 18 months for illegal immigrants, and a detention period not exceeding 12 months for asylum seekers who enter the country illegally. Detention is exercised on the grounds of illegal entry."

The ministry acknowledged that that crowding in detention centres was a concern. but said that MSF was failing to appreciate that this situation was a direct result of the larger number of illegal immigrants that landed in Malta during 2008 and the atypical arrival of more illegal immigrants during the first two months of this year.

"In these circumstances blaming crowding and the problems created by it on the Maltese authorities is both unfair and devoid of a realistic appraisal of the situation. This is especially so when considering that the Ta’ Kandja detention centre has just been expanded and is already full to capacity."

The Maltese authorities were doing their utmost to improve reception conditions, but the unusual arrival of over 700 immigrants in the first two months of this year had delayed plans for refurbishment. Still, the Hermes Block which was frequently mentioned by MSF in its report, was currently undergoing major restructuring and refurbishing.

The ministry said the impression that MSF was trying to put across, that the health problems being faced by illegal immigrants were down to Malta’s detention policy, was grossly misleading and unrealistic. It should be evident, it said, that a degree of crowding in any reception facility in Malta, be it closed or open, was in the present circumstances inevitable.

"It should be borne in mind that the purpose of our detention policy is to maintain security – even from a health point-of-view. In this regard, detention also ensures what is for us a priority - that the immigrants be treated for any infectious disease prior to their release into the community. The immediate release of illegal immigrants that MSF seems to be suggesting would only exacerbate these problems."

The Ministry insisted that vulnerable persons were not subject to the detention requirement and they had their freedom restricted only until such time as the necessary medical clearance was obtained – usually in less than a fortnight. Again, the sheer number of arrivals experienced during the first two months of the year had resulted in the handful of exceptions mentioned by MSF which had since been addressed.