SOS Malta said this afternoon that it has suspended its participation in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Libya until an unequivocal guarantee is obtained from Government authorities that transport to Misrata is used solely for humanitarian purposes.

The NGO said it had made one shipment of aid on a vessel that left Malta for Misrata on March 29.

"Our involvement was limited solely and exclusively to the delivery of humanitarian aid and we were happy to learn that all the aid, consisting of medicines and food items, had been safely delivered."

"It has since been brought to the attention of SOS Malta that the vessel may have operated on a non-humanitarian basis on its return journey to Malta. SOS Malta was not in any way concerned or involved with the vessel’s return journey to Malta," the NGO said.

It said it had always adhered to the core principles of humanitarian aid, namely, neutrality, impartiality, saving lives and alleviating suffering.

The trawler which delivered the supplies is believed to have ferried former Libyan energy minister Omar Fathi bin Shatwan to Malta.

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