Head of Fratelli d’Italia parliamentary group Tommaso Foti slams Malta as Italy declares a six-month state of emergency due to surge in migrant arrivals
Italian politician: Malta ‘pretends not to see’ migrants at sea
Italian politician Tommaso Foti has slammed Malta for its unwillingness to rescue migrants, saying the country is “pretending not to see” people at sea.
“They consistently pretend not to see and never intervene. Our coastguard is under pressure”, said the leader of Fratelli d’Italia’s parliamentary group.
Malta has rescued just one single migrant since the beginning of this year while the number rescued by Italy has tripled to over 30,000, UNHCR data indicates.
Italy’s right-wing government has declared a six-month state of emergency on migration as the number of asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean surged.
The cabinet decision was intended to ensure better management of migrant arrivals, more funds for reception centres and faster repatriations.
Italy rescues 1,200 people as AFM claim ‘no request’ was made
On Tuesday, The Armed Forces Malta (AFM) claimed they had not received a request for rescuing some 400 people on a boat in distress.
Search and rescue NGO Alarm Phone called the armed forces’ statement “absurd” and accused the AFM of lying and denying responsibility.
