The SAR Malta Network has called for a public inquiry to be launched following the death of five people during a rescue operation off Malta on Friday.
Five migrants had died after a boat that they were on capsized during a rescue effort by the Armed Forces of Malta off the island's south coast. The AFM's Deputy Commander Colonel Edric Zahra told the media during a briefing outside the army's base at Haywharf that together with those who died, another eight were receiving medical care, and 21 were taken to a detention centre.
"There were no impacts. As you know, these migrant boats are usually heavily loaded with people... the chances are that when people move from one place to another on it, then stability is lost. So the reason as to why the boat capsized is because it became unstable," Zahra had said. He had also said on Friday that police investigations were ongoing and a magisterial inquiry had been launched.
The SAR Malta Network issued a statement, expressing its "deep condolences to their bereaved families and friends."
"After three days at sea, their boat capsized during a rescue operation carried out by the Armed Forces of Malta. Twenty-one of the survivors, including people who had witnessed their loved ones drown, were immediately incarcerated in Malta's detention centre in Hal Far, a far cry from an appropriate place for the necessary psychological support and care. We demand a comprehensive and public inquiry into this unnecessary loss of life, which adds five more souls to the 2,500 people who drowned crossing the Central Mediterranean in 2023. Hailing from Egypt, Syria, Ghana, and Eritrea, the people in distress in Malta's territorial waters were seeking a better life and a safe haven. They had a right to timely rescue," the SAR Malta Network said.
"We note that the Maltese authorities deployed a rescue mission in this case, as is their responsibility under international law throughout Malta's search and rescue zone. We hope this signals a wider shift in the policy of non-assistance and the abandonment of people in distress that has characterised Maltese search and rescue in recent years. We also welcome the break from secrecy surrounding such rescue operations, with the public comments made by the AFM on the basic details of the case. We trust this will become standard practice, and that more information will be shared on this particular case."
It said, however, that "significant questions remain which need to be investigated urgently and communicated to the public and bereaved relatives in the interest of transparency and accountability."
"These questions include: (1) the timing of the rescue operation and why the people in distress were not rescued earlier; (2) whether standard search and rescue procedures were followed, including the availability of a RHIB and the means of communication with those on board; and (3) how conduct during this rescue operation is a result of Malta's ongoing failure to rescue within its wider search and rescue zone."
"We therefore demand that the Maltese authorities carry out a comprehensive and public inquiry in a timely manner under the Inquiries Act. We also demand that all survivors of this shipwreck are released from detention immediately so they may receive the appropriate support and care."