Malta seeks EU intervention in Libya crisis

Malta has proposed that the European Union create a EUR 100 million intervention fund to stop humanitarian disasters from migrants and asylum seekers in Libya. 

The aid is believed to be “the only sustainable and realistic option to avoid this humanitarian crisis and save lives of men, women and children,” according to a letter to the EU’s external relations representative Josep Borrell from Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Evarist Bartolo and Byron Camilleri, Minister for Home Affairs.

Citing its lack of resources and inability to welcome more migrants, Malta seeks to empower Libya as “a safe port for the disembarkation of migrants.” Italy and Malta are at the frontline of Europe’s irregular migration crisis via the Central Mediterranean. Both countries shut their ports to migrant rescue ships last week over concerns related to coronavirus.

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Photo credit: Shutterstock/AndriiKoval

Photo caption: The phrase ” Migrants in Libya ” on a banner in men’s hand. Human holds a cardboard with an inscription. Moving. War. Relocation. Immigrants. Migrant. Leave. Government. Crisis. Conflict. Politics