Malta 'repeatedly delayed' migrant rescues, claims NGO Alarm Phone

Malta has repeatedly delayed the rescue of migrants at sea, “needlessly endangering hundreds of lives”, according to the operators of an emergency rescue hotline.

In a bi-monthly report on migrant crossings covering the months of September and October, NGO Alarm Phone said delays to rescue missions, particularly by Maltese authorities, were continuing despite warnings of the risk to human life.  

Alarm Phone, a volunteer group that helps those in trouble at sea find the nearest coast guard, also highlighted “forced interceptions” of migrants at sea which resulted in their return to their initial ports of departure.  

This week The Sunday Times of Malta reported on a secretly negotiated agreement between Malta and Libya that sees the Armed Forces coordinate with the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrants headed towards the island and returned to the war-torn North African country.

The agreement for “mutual cooperation” was struck between members of the AFM and the Libyan coast guard, with government official Neville Gafà acting as an intermediary.

Libyan interceptions

The NGO’s report shines a rare spotlight on how Libyan interceptions of migrants at sea play out.  

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