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
Statement of:
- aditus foundation
- African Media Association Malta
- Alliance for Justice, Equality and Peace
- Allied Rainbow Communities
- Anti-Poverty Forum Malta
- Blue Door English
- The Critical Institute
- The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
- Dean’s Office, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta
- Dean’s Office, Faculty of Education, University of Malta
- Fondazzjoni Sebħ
- Great Oak Malta Association
- Integra Foundation
- Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta)
- KNŻ – Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ
- LGBTI+ Gozo
- Malta House of Prayer Foundation
- Malta Humanist Association
- Malta Refugee Council
- Maltese Association of Psychiatry
- The Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW)
- Men Against Violence
- Migrants Commission
- Migrant Women Association Malta
- Millennium Chapel
- Moviment Graffitti
- Paolo Freire Institute
- Peace and Good Foundation
- Repubblika
- Salesians of Don Bosco – Dar Osanna Pia
- Segretarjat Assistenza Soċjali tal-Azzjoni Kattolika Maltija
- SOS Malta
- Spark 15
- St. Jeanne Antide Foundation
- Sudanese Community
- Victim Support Malta Foundation
- Women’s Rights Foundation