Malta retains envoy in Tripoli but calls on nationals to leave immediately

The Maltese government is increasing its travel advisory warning and calling on Maltese nationals to leave Libya.

Principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar, who heads Malta’s contingency centre, said the government was calling on Maltese in the capital of Tripoli, Benghazi and oil fields, to leave on Wednesday.

There will be flights from Mitiga airport and from Labraq airport.

The advisory is not being termed an “evacuation”, because Malta’s diplomatic mission in Tripoli will continue operating. But the Malta consulate will be suspending operations as from 6 August.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the foreign affairs ministry said that it was constantly monitoring the situation in Libya and confirmed that the North African country is in a dire situation.

“Because of the situation, weeks ago the ministry issued a travel warning and advised Maltese citizens in Libya to leave the country.”

The ministry also noted that a Crisis Centre has been operating since 16 July and it has been offering Maltese citizens assisted departure services.

To date, the number of Maltese citizens in Tripoli, Benghazi and the oil fields amount to over 100.

The statement confirmed that government will be organizing two flights tomorrow afternoon, one from Tripoli and the other from Labraq, just outside Benghazi.

Government will be paying for the flights, in what could be the last opportunity for Maltese citizens to fly out of Libya.

The ministry added that it would keep monitoring the situation and collaborate with a number of countries who have a presence on the ground in Libya, including Italy, the UK, the Philippines and Korea.