“Where are they?” (follow-up)

Civil society response to the news of safety of the ‘missing’ 110 

It is with great relief that we welcome news of the safe disembarkation in Italy of the 110 persons assumed to have been stranded. We thank the Italian authorities for allowing their disembarkation and for providing them with shelter and safety. We also appreciate the statement issued by the Armed Forces of Malta, confirming that the AFM had been closely monitoring this boat for some time. 

This incident further confirms our earlier statement on the crucial importance of sharing information in an open and transparent manner. It is in the interests of safety of lives, transparency and accountability that we stressed – and continue to stress – the need for the competent authorities to refrain from withholding information relating to search and rescue activities. In the absence of such disclosure, particularly following request to the appropriate channels, it is inevitable for us to become concerned for the fate of persons who we believe to be missing, pushed-back or drowned. 

We therefore reiterate our appeal to Malta to openly provide information on its search and rescue activities. It is only in such a spirit of transparency that mutual cooperation towards ensuring safety of lives at sea may be secured. 

#DontLetThemDrown 

Source: Armed Forces of Malta.

 Statement of:

  1. aditus foundation
  2. African Media Association Malta
  3. Alliance for Justice, Equality and Peace
  4. Allied Rainbow Communities
  5. Anti-Poverty Forum Malta
  6. Blue Door English
  7. The Critical Institute
  8. The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
  9. Dean’s Office, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta 
  10. Dean’s Office, Faculty of Education, University of Malta
  11. Fondazzjoni Sebħ
  12. Great Oak Malta Association
  13. Integra Foundation
  14. Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta)
  15. KNŻ – Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ
  16. LGBTI+ Gozo
  17. Malta House of Prayer Foundation
  18. Malta Humanist Association
  19. Malta Refugee Council 
  20. Maltese Association of Psychiatry 
  21. The Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW)
  22. Men Against Violence
  23. Migrants Commission
  24. Migrant Women Association Malta
  25. Millennium Chapel
  26. Moviment Graffitti
  27. Paolo Freire Institute
  28. Peace and Good Foundation
  29. Repubblika
  30. Salesians of Don Bosco – Dar Osanna Pia
  31. Segretarjat Assistenza Soċjali tal-Azzjoni Kattolika Maltija
  32. SOS Malta
  33. Spark 15 
  34. St. Jeanne Antide Foundation
  35. Sudanese Community
  36. Victim Support Malta Foundation
  37. Women’s Rights Foundation