Commissioner for Refugees Charles Buttigieg told The Malta Independent on Sunday that a total of 242 applications involving 258 people were received from boat-people asking for refugee status between June and August.
In June, 38 applications involving 38 people were received, in July, 105 applications involving 112 people were received, while in August, 99 applications involving 108 people were received.
From June to August there was only one male person who was recognised as a refugee. The application in this case was received in May 2004.
In the same period there were 161 cases involving 177 people who were granted humanitarian protection. There were also 22 cases, involving 22 people, that were rejected.
At the end of August there were 118 pending cases, involving 122 persons. Pending cases are those cases where procedures are in hand but not yet finalised.
Moreover, at the same time there were 146 cases, involving 151 boat people, awaiting the start of procedures, that is, their application still had to be filled.
Mr Buttigieg said that applications received are not necessarily concluded in the same month they are entered.
Asked about the nationality of asylum seekers, Mr Buttigieg said that his office does not publish details about that. He said more boat-people were expected to apply in the coming days, following the latest arrivals in the beginning of this month.
“It is very difficult to say how long it will take to process all pending cases. This depends very much on different factors, mainly the nature of the refugee claim, and whether the applicants are in a position to support their claims with documents, as the majority are totally undocumented,” Mr Buttigieg told The Malta Independent on Sunday.
Almost 1,100 asylum seekers in reception centres
There were almost 1,100 asylum seekers in reception centres in Malta at the end of August, according to figures published by the Emigrants’ Commission.
Open centres
Government 372
Emigrants’ Commission
residences 235
607
Detention centres
Safi 372*
Hal Far 96
468
Grand Total 1075
* Of these, 158 (149 Somalis and 9 Eritreans) are expected to be transferred to the open centres, as they are expected to be granted temporary protection.
A Home Affairs Ministry spokesman told The Malta Independent on Sunday that in view of this, government was seeking additional premises to be used as Open Centres.
The spokesman said that, prior to June, there had only been around 100 asylum seekers in detention centres.
Detention centres are used for asylum seekers whose application for asylum has not yet been determined by the Commissioner for Refugees and for those whose application has been rejected.
These are operated by the Armed Forces of Malta and the Police and are the responsibility of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry.
Open centres are used by those asylum seekers who have been granted either humanitarian protection or refugee status. Responsibility for these centres has recently been transferred to the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity.