The money is spent on food and clothes given to the immigrants, and also takes into consideration the salaries of persons whose job is to deal with the immigrants, such as officials of the Armed Forces of Malta and immigration

officers.

On 8 August, the amount of illegal immigrants detained at immigration centres amounted to 358.

When asked on the average stay of immigrants, the ministry spokesman said that this was not possible to calculate because each case was different from others.

It also appears that the immigrants usually dispose of their passports before entering

the country, thus making it much harder for them to be

repatriated.

Legislation has also been passed recently so cases that have been pending for a long period of time are settled as quickly as possible.

Asked on what is being done to solve this huge crisis, the spokesperson said that a

committee has been set up under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to deal with the situation.

This committee is a task force that consistently monitors the situation with regard to illegal immigrants, especially considering that Malta is practically having to deal with new arrivals every day. The Prime Minister’s Office said that the task force’s brief also includes envisaging that a proper service was provided to the immigrants and that this conforms to international standards.

The spokesman from the Ministry of Home Affairs said that discussions are going on between Malta and Libya for a repatriation agreement similar to that currently in force with Italy. If negotiations are successful, this agreement will allow Malta to return any immigrant regardless of nationality back to Libya if proof is presented that the voyage originated from that country.