Almost 2,300 illegal immigrants made it to Malta since 2001

One hundred people who arrived in Malta illegally are being kept at two detention centres - 35 at the Hal Far Refugee Centre and 65 at the Safi barracks.

The Emigrants' Commission said 32 of the men are from Somalia and are expected to be granted humanitarian temporary protection shortly.

To mark World Refugee Day being celebrated tomorrow, the commission said at a news conference there were 83 adults and 36 children refugees and "persons of concern" who were recognised by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees before 2001 and who were still in Malta. Apart from these, four Sudanese and four Iraqis enjoyed humanitarian protection.

The Emigrants' Commission said those enjoying humanitarian protection, refugees and those who were freed after 18 months in detention lived in two open centres - the Hal Far Refugee Open Centre and the Lyster Barracks - in homes managed by the commission, while families lived in the Peace Laboratory and private homes and minors at Dar is-Sliem.

The commission homes have given shelter to 484 people since September 2002. The commission said 61 per cent of them were given refugee status, humanitarian protection or temporary protection.

Between September 2002 and last April, the government gave assistance amounting to Lm115,859, the commission said.

Refugees are given the right to work and every form of social assistance on the same level as Maltese people, it said. Those who have been granted humanitarian protection are given the right to apply for a work permit when they find an employer. Men are given Lm2 every day for the first two months while women are given Lm2 and children Lm1. Those living in open centres are given free food and shelter as well as 50c a day in travel expenses.

The commission said that between 2001 and last month, a total of 2,284 immigrants arrived illegally in Malta, with the greatest number, 1,686, arriving in 2002.

Since January 2002, 77 people were recognised as refugees while 563 were granted humanitarian protection. Another 519 have had their applications refused, 36 withdrew theirs and 76 are still being processed.

World Refugee Day was first internationally celebrated in 2001. Before that many countries had observed a refugee day.