A total of 6,999 boat people arrived in Malta over the past five years. The trend increased every year apart from 2010 – when Gaddafi was playing ball with the European Union over the issue.

In 2009, a total of 1,475 people arrived in Malta. That trend bucked sharply in 2010 when only 47 arrivals were registered. In 2011, the numbers went up to 1,579 and in 2012, they increased to 1,890. In 2013 the numbers swelled again, hitting 2,008.

During the same period, a total of 1,278 asylum seekers spent time getting treatment in hospital. In 2009, a total of 292 boat people were hospitalised and the average length of stay was 3 days.

In 2010, 135 immigrants spent time in hospital for an average of 3.2 days. In 2011, the number was 238, but with a longer average length of stay at 4.2 days. In 2012, 276 migrants were hospitalised for an average of 3.7 days and up to mid December of last year, 337 immigrants spent time in hospital for an average of 3 days.  The information was given in parliament on Wednesday night.