Torrential rain lashed the canvas tents at the Hal Far open centre for immigrants, as strong winds billowed through the gaping holes whipping the tattered material and threatening to rip the tents in half.

Inside one of them, Johannes Kidaline, 29, was huddled on the thin mattress. Despite wearing three T-shirts, a thick sweater, jacket, a pair of shorts and trousers, he was still freezing.

"I slept in these clothes and kept my shoes on in the hope of keeping warm, but it was so cold, I didn't manage to sleep," he said.

The tent had a huge opening right next to his bed and deep puddles of rain water had gathered at his feet. A plastic bag was tied to the tent's window, but its flimsiness was no match for the gale.

It was dark inside, meagre light filtering through the torn patches to expose the dire situation in which Mr Kidaline, a cameraman from Eritrea, lives with 24 other immigrants.

He has only been there for three months but he dreads to think what winter will be like in these conditions.

"These tents are not fit for human beings. Even though we now have our freedom we were more comfortable living in the closed centres than here. I know we're not welcome here, but in the meantime we're not asking for much" he said, in broken English.

Mr Kidaline escaped his war-torn country more than a year ago, leaving his wife and six-year-old son behind in search of a democratic and peaceful country in which to settle.

He was planning to make his way up to central Europe, aiming to eventually reach his sister in the US and settle there, before sending for his family.

His jet-black eyes glaze over as he thinks about his family and uncertain fate.

"If I cannot sleep, I cannot do a full day's work. If I cannot work I cannot eat. How can I survive?" he asked.

In the tent next door, the situation is hardly any better. Davide Tamrat, 18, is curled up on the bed, with a woollen scarf covering half his face.

"I'm not wanted here and I don't like it here. It's freezing and nothing I do can warm me up. Sleeping last night was impossible," he said, mumbling through his scarf.

Not all the tents are in tatters, but the wind and water still make their way in through holes and gaps in the canvas.

A few tents down, Ruth and her sister from Eritrea are getting ready to queue up at the nearby building to see a doctor.

"I'm two months pregnant and I keep falling ill because of the cold and rain. I'm miserable in this tent," she said.

An electricity pole stands in the centre of her tent with wires snaking down. But she is too scared to use the heater because the plugs are too close to the water and two weeks ago she got a nasty shock.

The Hal Far open centre, situated in an open field and exposed to the fierce winds, was set up in May 2006 to provide shelter to the droves of illegal immigrants that reached Malta. The place was intended to be "semi-permanent" but a feeling of permanency hangs over it. There are 25 tents, housing about 800 immigrants, and 10 other tents will soon be put up.

A spokesman for the Social Solidarity Ministry said when contacted that there were no plans to get rid of Tent City and house these immigrants in buildings.

"Due to the very large number of persons requiring accommodation in open centres, there are no immediate plans to change the basic structure in Hal Far.

"Staff members at the centre and in other units are working with residents to encourage them to move on to other accommodation, in order to minimise, as much as possible, the duration of time spent in centres."

The spokesman said that since the centre opened, several tents had already been replaced with new ones, and supplies of new tents were on order.

"All new residents are given supplies upon entering the centre. Particularly vulnerable residents are further assisted by the staff. Residents in employment are also expected to provide for further items themselves to ensure their comfort."

Besides replacing tents that can no longer serve their purpose, new permanent bathroom facilities have recently been opened and a dining/recreation area will soon be up and running. This is welcome news, though Mr Kidaline feels the new bathroom facilities are more "luxurious and comfortable" than their tents.