The United Nations refugee agency was constrained to defend its operations after the Italian Defence Minister said the agency's opinion "did not count at all" as he dismissed its criticism of Italy's migration policy.

Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa also attacked the UNHCR's Italian spokesman Laura Boldrini suggesting she was either "inhuman" or a "criminal".

The UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Guterres yesterday defended Ms Boldrini and the agency's work.

"These attacks are unacceptable and they do not and will not stop the UNHCR from fulfilling its mandate and continuing its humanitarian mission," Mr Guterres said.

The Italian minister later toned down his words.

Mr La Russa's attack follows harsh criticism made last week by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, who lambasted the UNHCR for criticising Italy's repatriation policy without suggesting an alternative.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici even accused the UNHCR of wanting to play "Russian roulette" with the lives of migrants in comments to The Times on Saturday.

The UNHCR has been turned into a punching bag for the Maltese and Italian authorities after the agency criticised the policy to immediately send rescued migrants back to Libya. It said the policy, which did not permit migrants to ask for protection, breached their fundamental human rights.

Malta and Italy are suggesting that the UNHCR office in Libya be beefed up so that applications for protection would be able to be filed over there without the need for migrants to undertake the dangerous sea voyage.

"It makes no sense encouraging migrants to cross the sea and risk their lives when a proper functioning asylum office in Libya could cut out the criminal ring that makes a profit from this situation," Dr Mifsud Bonnici had said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com