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UNHCR: ‘Priority is disembarkation of asylum seekers on board Salamis’
UNHCR concerned that longstanding tradition of saving lives at sea may be at risk because of contention between states as to where those rescued are disembarked.
6 August 2013, 12:00am
by Matthew Vella
by Matthew Vella
2 min read
Migrants rescued by the M/T Salamis watch the AFM hoist supplies delivered to the tanker. Photo: Chris Mangion/Mediatoday
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over an impasse that has left 102 people, reportedly of mainly Eritrean nationality, aboard the tanker M/T Salamis in the Mediterranean, after having been rescued from a dinghy that left from Libya.
The UNHCR called for a quick and practical solution to enable the safe and rapid disembarkation for the people rescued, including to determine international protection needs. The group on board comprises several vulnerable individuals, including a four-month-old infant.
"The current situation in Libya is well documented in recent reports, including as regards discrimination and abuse affecting people originating from sub-Saharan Africa. UNHCR considers that return of asylum-seekers to this situation is not an option," a spokesperson for the agency said.
"UNHCR welcomes the continued efforts of the Italian and Maltese authorities to rescue boats in distress in the Mediterranean and commends the shipmaster of M/V Salamis for saving lives at sea in line with obligations under international maritime law."
But the UNHCR said it was concerned that a "longstanding tradition" of saving lives at sea by vessels of all categories may be at risk because of contention between states as to where those rescued are disembarked.
"It should be a collective priority for all involved to ensure that asylum-seekers seeking protection are not exposed to further hardship as a result of disagreement on disembarkation."
The agency reiterated its global call to all shipmasters and to coastal countries "to carry out their duty of rescuing persons in distress at sea and to cooperate closely in enabling disembarkation."
"UNHCR stands ready to provide all possible support in this regard. UNHCR calls for active consideration of concrete responsibility sharing measures, and urges other European Union countries to strengthen solidarity with countries such as Malta at the EU's external border."
The agency said that the current deadlock demonstrated the need to develop a regional framework to strengthen cooperation and coordination among States and others implicated in rescue-at-sea operations.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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why should Malta be the target of so much hostility from people who sit comfortably in their offices and expect Malta to go against International Law and accept these immigrants. We have had enough, just enough of these immigrants and the second class treatment of Europe towards Malta. We have become the Nauru of Europe as the Australians have done with boat immigrants in the Southern Hemisphere. Australians are wise. Europe tries to think that we are dumb fools. That is why I believe Malta will follow Britain in getting out of Europe after 2017.
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1. If we let this ship in with a ship Captain that ignored international law for commercial reasons while when he rescued the migrants in Libyan SAR waters, then others will attempt to follow suit - so NO WAY!
2. On a separate note, it's been a whole month since President van Rompuy visited Malta on the subject and there is still no sign of movement in stance for the EU to share migrants accordingly - if you want to take people for a ride, then you have unfortunately picked on the wrong country!
3. Stop treating us like the whore of Europe for migrants - we are a very small country, we have a space problem and cannot cope with this incoming load. Financial aid is not going to solve the issue.
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This is a development not in our national interest. Being a small country I am not surprised how these bullies are treating this matter.
I question what are they doing to the Australians who are repatriating? how about Saudi, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Israel, most of the Middle Eastern countries doing to Christians, the U.S. a while back to Mexicans and Cubans, South Africa against the whites, China uprooting people and on and on.
Show us how it is done and if people learn that to move in a civilized world you need papers to declare yourself we will have a better world.
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Why?
Are they in distress?
No.
Do they need saving?
No.
Do they need food or water?
No because it's being provided to them for free by the AFM and paid by us Maltese.
Do they need to disembark for medical attention?
No because it's being provided for free by the AFM and paid by the Maltese.
Are they unsafe or in danger?
No.
Were they forced to travel to Europe? No.
Do they have means of identification so we can know whether they're really Somalian or Erithrean refugees in need of asylum?
No.
Did they pass through 'terrible Libya' to come here?
Yes.
Did they pay (the equivalent of) thousands of Euros to shady criminals to allow them on a boat without a passport? Yes.
@ Amnesty International: It's easy to speak in favour of being charitable, when it isn't YOU who's paying for charity.
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hi matthew and saviour, how about putting up an opinion poll on this matter ? surely it would be more interesting than how many times we travelled abroad last year.
but then again, this might contradict what you have been pontificating all along, that the PM has shamed the country. of course, only you know best.
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Perhaps the UNHCR Representative, whoever he or she may be, should remember that to dictate to Sovereign States, even by innuendo, as to what is or is not an option, does not fall within the mandate of UN Agencies.
This is a classic case of an over-zealous official trying to flex his muscles where a small country is involved. I have seen and met quite a lot of UN people of this type, and have nothing but contempt for them.
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Perhaps the UNHCR Representative, whoever he or she may be, should remember that to dictate to Sovereign States, even by innuendo, as to what is or is not an option, does not fall within the mandate of UN Agencies.
This is a classic case of an over-zealous official trying to flex his muscles where a small country is involved. I have seen and met quite a lot of UN people of this type, and have nothing but contempt for them.
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Dear UNCHR just cut the crap and go and open an office in Libya and not put the blame and your baggage of inefficiency on Malta. All these NGOs see these kind of people in need as cash cows a good excuse for their freebie funding and not as a human tragedy.
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How does the UNHCR know they're Erithreans? Are they all carrying passports proving they're Erithreans?
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exactly. it is the captain who should be held responsible for not disembarking them two days ago.
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Perhaps the UNHCR should take the migrants off the ship and let them safely to their homeland.
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These people are Muslims right? So why don't they enter another Muslim country? Could it be that Islam has let them down and they've had enough of it?
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It is not the function of United Nations Agencies to dictate to Sovereign States as to what is an option and what is not.
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EU President van Rompuy to visit Malta - 10th July 2013 - What were the results since his visit? Just like empty vessels. More illegal immigrants are making their way to Malta. A man is a good as his words!
