Migrants

UPDATED: Finland closes Russia border posts after days of asylum inflows

By Essi Lehto and Anne Kauranen Finland early on Saturday closed four crossings on its border with Russia as Helsinki seeks to halt a flow of asylum seekers it says…

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Hundreds more join Mexico migrant caravan headed for US

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) - Hundreds more people have joined a caravan of thousands of migrants in Mexico bound for the United States, one of the organizers said, as the group…

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US encourages Afghanistan’s neighbours, including Pakistan, to accept refugees

By Simon Lewis and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States "strongly" encouraged Afghanistan's neighbors, including Pakistan, to allow entry for Afghans seeking protection and urged them to uphold…

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Malta: Migrant arrivals drop by 47% in 2022

During 2022, 10 boat landings were recorded in Malta, with 445 persons being brought to Maltese shores (including persons air lifted at sea), a decrease of 46.9 per cent when…

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Hopes fading as Greece scours migrant shipwreck site for survivors

KALAMATA, Greece, (Reuters) - Rescuers scoured the seas off Greece on Thursday following a shipwreck that killed at least 78 migrants, as hopes of survivors dwindled and fears grew that…

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In Malaysia, migrants say they are in limbo after promised jobs fall through

By A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Stranded without work for months, hundreds of South Asian migrants in Malaysia say they are losing hope after failing to…

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UK pushes ahead with Rwanda migrant scheme as small boats keep coming

LONDON (Reuters) - Housed in a detention centre in southern England, Aladeen says he risked his life to travel thousands of miles from his homeland of Syria to escape being…

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Pope calls migrant crisis ‘shipwreck of civilisation’

LESBOS, Greece (Reuters) -Pope Francis condemned the exploitation of migrants for political purposes on Sunday during a visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, branding the global indifference to their…

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Shooting in Libya detention centre after migrant raids

At least six migrants were shot dead at a Tripoli detention centre on Friday, the head of the U.N. migration agency's Libya mission said, as many reportedly escaped from the…

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Malta: Migrant community demands stronger rights

Migrant and asylum-seeker communities gathered in Valletta on Monday in a show of force to demand better rights while protesting the unhuman treatment of migrants in Malta. The migrant community…

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About 40 migrants feared dead after boat capsizes off Western Sahara

MADRID (Reuters) - About 40 migrants were feared dead after a boat carrying about 50 people travelling from Western Sahara to Spain's Canary Islands capsized, a Spanish non-governmental organisation, said…

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Rescue boat with hundreds of migrants picked from Maltese waters asks EU to find it a port

A charity group asked the European Union on Tuesday to find a port where it can dock to disembark hundreds of migrants it has rescued in the central Mediterranean over recent days. Some…

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Malta: Italy takes in 86 migrants after Malta refuses to budge

A total of 86 migrants in distress within Malta’s search and rescue zone were rescued by the Italian coastguard as the Maltese authorities refused to get involved, according to German…

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Italy to ask EU to pay Libya to stop migrant departures – newspaper

Italy's government is set to ask the European Union to pay Libya to stop migrant boats leaving its coast, newspaper la Repubblica reported on Tuesday. The scheme, which the newspaper…

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Malta: ‘Missing migrants’ reached Italian territory within hours, AFM says

The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) has issued a statement on the 110 migrants that were adrift in Malta's Search and Rescue Region, saying that the migrants safely reached Italian…

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President reflections – Malta News Briefing – Sunday 4 April 2021 – Update

President's second year - President George Vella reaffirmed his worries about the threat of widespread construction in a message on Easter Sunday, while also discussing other topics such as the…

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Malta: Country refuses to take 146 migrants rescued in its search and rescue area – NGO

A rescue ship that picked up 146 migrants in Malta’s search and rescue zone over the weekend has had a request to disembark them in Malta refused, according to NGO…

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‘Migrants’ priest’ stabbed to death in Como

A 51-year-old priest, Don Roberto Malgesini, was stabbed to death this morning in Piazza San Rocco, Como. Don Malgesini, from Valtellina, was known in the city for his commitment in…

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Malta: Only 8% of migrants arriving in Malta relocated to EU – Minister Bartolo

Minister for European and Foreign Affairs Evarist Bartolo has stated that in the last fifteen years, only 8% of immigrants arriving in Malta have been relocated to EU countries. Source:…

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Malta: Two stowaways heading to Italy land behind bars

Two migrants who tried to slip out of Malta by hiding inside a container destined for shipment to Italy have landed behind bars instead. Source: Times of Malta Updated 15:15pm

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Malta: Captain makes desperate appeal following four-week standoff

The captain of an oil tanker stranded just outside Maltese waters has urgently appealed for 27 migrants they had rescued at the beginning of August to be brought to shore. Source: Times…

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Malta: More than 230 asylum seekers in distress in Central Mediterranean – NGO

More than 230 asylum seekers are on board unseaworthy boats adrift the Central Mediterranean route, migrant NGO Alarm Phone warned as it called on Maltese and Italian authorities to intervene.Source:…

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94 Migrants rescued by Maltese Armed Forces are brought to Malta in Senglea

Developing story: Net News and Reuters are reporting that 94 migrants were rescued and brought to shore by the Armed Forces of Malta. This group was brought in at Senglea…

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Malta: Rescued migrants being brought to Malta

A group of 63 migrants rescued from their sinking boat in Malta’s search and rescue zone will be brought to Malta, a spokeswoman for the Armed Forces of Malta has…

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Malta: Alarm Phone: Malta leaves phone ringing as 23 asylum seekers await rescue

Malta and Italy alike are washing their hands off a group of 23 asylum seekers in distress who are presently close to Lampedusa, according to NGO Alarm Phone. However, they…

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Malta: Shocking footage shows desperation of migrants aboard cargo ship

The situation on board the Lebanese livestock cargo ship Talia has deteriorated rapidly and is becoming "unsustainable", Captain Mohammad Shaaban told MaltaToday, relaying the plight of 52 rescued migrants. Source:…

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Malta: Maltese Government in agreement with a number of European countries to relocate 284 immigrants from Malta

284 immigrants will be transferred towards the EU member states in a relocation exercise co-ordinated by the European Commission. The Maltese Government has begun the process for the first group…

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Malta: Ship kept offshore as Malta seeks European solution for rescued migrants

Malta is refusing to allow the disembarkation of 52 migrants rescued by a vessel registered as a livestock carrier, until it has guarantees from other EU member states on their…

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Malta: 13 migrants file a judicial protest against Govt and AFM

Thirteen migrants from the Pasquetta tragedy pushback to libya have filed a judicial protest on Tuesday against Prime Minister Robert Abela, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi and…

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Malta: 868 children arrived in Malta after rescue last year

868 children arrived in Malta last year after being rescued at sea. They included 768 who were unaccompanied or separated from their parents (UASC), according to a report by the United…

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Malta: 21 asylum seekers escape from Ħal Far detention centre

The incident happened at around 8 am. In a statement the Home Affairs Ministry said that during the routine morning checks, detention service officers realised that 21 asylum seekers held…

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Germany ready to accept migrants from Malta, Italy

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer indicated on Wednesday that Germany will recommit to accepting migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea from Malta and Italy following a pause during the coronavirus pandemic. Seehofer,…

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Malta: German government adopts measures to stop migrants’ rescue operations at sea by organisations

Three organisations involved in the rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean sea expressed concern by new measures adopted by the German government, which they said will stop them from operating…

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Malta: Three EU countries have offered to help Malta with migrant relocation

Three EU member states have offered to assist Malta with the relocation of some 425 migrants who were finally allowed to disembark on Saturday night after being held on four tourist boats…

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Malta: Immigrants on board four vessels brought to Malta last night

Immigrants who were being kept by Maltese authorities on four vessels in international waters after they were rescued in the Mediterranean, were brought to Malta last night. Source: TVM Updated…

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Malta: Migrants in protest aboard Europa II, but no intervention from army yet

A tourist ferry boat chartered by the Maltese government to hold asylum seekers rescued at sea to prevent them from claiming asylum in Malta, is heading into Maltese territorial waters.…

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Malta: Europe rights body urges action for migrants stuck off Malta

Europe’s leading human rights organization is calling for immediate action to bring to shore some 400 migrants that the Malta government transferred to chartered pleasure boats at sea. The Council…

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Malta: Migrants stranded at sea for more than a month

More than 400 migrants are living aboard pleasure cruise vessels bobbing in the sea off Malta, many of them for weeks now. But for them, it's no pleasure, only uncertainty…

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Malta: Unacceptable to leave migrants on Captain Morgan – UNHCR and IMO

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), have called on Malta and the other European States to speed efforts to bring some 160 rescued migrants…

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Malta: Migrants aboard Captain Morgan boat are on hunger strike – NGO

Migrants being detained aboard one of two tourist cruise vessels at sea have started a hunger strike, an NGO claimed on Tuesday. Writing on Twitter, rescue hotline Alarm Phone said…

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Malta: 50 migrants in distress in Maltese SAR zone

The NGO Alarm Phone has lost contact with the group of 50 migrants who are in distress and have reached out to Humanitarian NGO Alarm Phone to inform them they…

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Malta: Another Captain Morgan ship, the Atlantis, chartered to host more migrants

Another vessel owned by Captain Morgan has left Malta to host a number of migrants who were in distress and were rescued by the Maltese authorities since they were in…

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Malta: Malta will let in 18 migrants; all will be placed under quarantine

Last night Malta coordinated a rescue operation to save 123 migrants who were on board 2 boats. According to government sources, the two boats were in Malta’s SAR zone. This…

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Malta: Government charters second Captain Morgan vessel as another 123 migrants are saved

The government has chartered a second Captain Morgan vessel after another 123 migrants were rescued in two separate operations last night. The migrants were rescued in two operations coordinated by…

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Malta: 46 migrants in distress in Malta’s SAR zone

The Armed Forces of Malta have been called by the humanitarian NGO Alarm Phone to rescue a boat in distress carrying 46 migrants. On Twitter, Alarm Phone said that the…

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Malta: Critical situation on MV Marina carrying 77 migrants – Ship captain

The master of the vessel MV Marina Tuesday morning sent an urgent email to RCC Malta describing as critical the situation on board his ship which very early Sunday morning…

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Malta: Malta PM – Ports shut to migrants until EU agrees relocation

Malta's port will remain closed to all irregular immigrants until an EU agreement is found for their relocation, Robert Abela said. The Prime Minister said that, in a meeting with…

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Malta: Captain Morgan ship out at sea until solution for migrants is found

The Captain Morgan ship moored in international waters 13 nautical off Malta will remain out at sea until the 57 migrants on board are relocated to other European states, according…

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Malta: Malta drafts EU proposed solution to migrants’ problem

The European People’s Party, the largest political cohort in the European Parliament is placing the agenda an agreement on Migrant Policy. Drafted by Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, her office told…

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Malta: Bartolo rails against EU on migration limbo: ‘Malta is left all alone’

Malta’s foreign minister has posted a volley of Facebooks posts in which he lays the blame for the failure to save asylum seekers at sea at the European Union’s doorstep,…

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Malta: Using private assets for migrant rescues is not against international law – Prime Minister

Using private assets to facilitate the rescue of migrants at sea is not against international law covering search and rescue, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Friday as he defended…

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Malta: Malta saw fourfold increase in unaccompanied children seeking asylum

Malta had 20 asylum applications by unaccompanied minors in 2019, four times higher than the previous year, figures released by Eurostat show. The majority of unaccompanied minors who made it…

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Malta: Fresh evidence disputes AFM sabotage claims

Alleged sabotage of a migrant boat by Malta's armed forces was instead a standard rescue procedure, according to fresh evidence submitted by civil society group Repubblika to the courts on…

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Malta: No other case has resulted positive at the Ħal Far open centre

Professor Charmaine Gauci has confirmed that no other case has resulted positive for Covid-19 at the Ħal Far open centre. The Superintendent stated that 20 swab tests were carried out…

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Malta: 500 healthcare workers call on government not to let migrants drown

The list of healthcare workers urging Prime Minister Robert Abela not to abandon migrants at sea reached 500 on Friday. On Thursday, a letter to Abela had been signed by…

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Malta: Jason Azzopardi accuses PM, Brigadier and Army of killing immigrants

Justice of the Nationalist Party Jason Azzopardi denounced the police to investigate Prime Minister Robert Abela, Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi and the Army for voluntary killing of immigrants. Azzopardi's request was…

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Malta: Migrants picked up by merchant vessel from Malta SAR zone, taken back to Libya – IOM

A group of migrants who had been stranded inside the Maltese search and rescue area have been taken back to Tripoli, the Libya branch of the International Organisation for Migration…

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