The Home Affairs Ministry insisted that besides countries sharing the burden of rescuing migrants, there should be a focus on stopping the “deadly crossings” in the Mediterranean, after receiving criticism from an Italian politician accusing Malta of “pretending not to see” boats in distress.

“Action should not be taken just to share the responsibility but to stop the deadly crossings organised by criminal networks in the first place,” a spokesperson for the ministry responded.

Italian politician Tommaso Foti, who heads the ruling right-wing Fratelli d’Italia grouping in Italy’s parliament, said that Malta’s reluctance to rescue migrants at sea is “beginning to become annoying” and he accused Malta of “pretending not to see” these boats in distress.

The Malta Independent sent questions to the ministry asking for a response to Foti’s comments.

In response, the ministry said: “The Armed Forces of Malta monitors all reports and sightings of migrant vessels in Malta’s Search and Rescue Region. Such fact is proven by the constant communication that the Maltese authorities maintains with all the entities and organisations concerned, including the rescue coordination authorities of neighbouring countries and private vessels sailing in the area.”

“Malta believes that the recent influx of migrants, caused by large vessels carrying hundreds of individuals, is a European problem which cannot be shouldered by Malta and Italy alone. Action should not be taken just to share the responsibility but to stop the deadly crossings organised by criminal networks in the first place. Malta will continue to work closely with Italy on this matter, including on a European level which affects both countries directly.”

Foti also referred to the case in Lampedusa, Sicily where nearly 1,000 migrants landed in Lampedusa on Easter Sunday.

Malta has only rescued one migrant this year, whereas Italy has rescued over 20,000, data collected by the UNHCR indicates.

Rescue NGOs have been accusing Malta of delaying rescues for boats in their Search and Rescue zone.

“Malta is choosing to wait for the boat to either reach the Italian SAR zone or be picked up by the Libyan authorities,” rescue hotline NGO Alarm Phone told The Malta Independent on Sunday.