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There are 6 reception centres in Malta (down from eight in 2017). Of these, 5 are run by AWAS and the other by an NGO. This latter centre falls within AWAS’ overall reception system.
- Ħal Far Tent Village: UMAS between the ages of 16 years to 18 years and single male adults
- Hangar Open Centre: families and single female adults
- Ħal Far Open Centre: Families
- Dar il-Liedna: UMAS under 16 years old
- Initial Reception Centre Marsa: Everyone, at arrival
- Balzan Open Centre (NGO-run): Families and single women
Since the revision of the reception system in Malta, the IRC is now used partly as a closed centre for newly arrivals. The other part remains an open centre.
AWAS confirmed that, at the end of 2023, the total number of residents by legal status was the following:
- Asylum-seekers: 358
- Rejected asylum-seekers: 11
- Refugees: 4
- Asylum-seekers at appellate stage: 35
- Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection: 9
- Beneficiaries of Temporary Humanitarian Protection: 11
Notably no beneficiaries of Temporary Protection were residing in the open centres during this period.
Additionally, the number of residents breakdown by gender was:
- Male: 197
- Female: 88
- Male minor: 83
- Female minor: 60
According to an AWAS statement, no data is available regarding the total number of places for applicants for international protection in private accommodation at the end of 2023. Nevertheless, there was data referring to applicants for international protection residing in private accommodation. More specifically, the number of applicants residing in the community who register for financial assistance at the AWAS Head Office was 214.
Ħal Far Tent Village, the largest reception centre, is divided into various sections, with the larger part dedicated to adult men and the smaller separate sections reserved for single women (when accommodated there) and UAMs. The latter section is not accessible to adults who are not authorised to enter and includes a zone for UMAS confirmed as minors and another called “Buffer zone” for those that are in the AAT procedure.
The Centre retains its original name when it was, in fact, a series of rows of military tens. It is now a series of rows of metal containers on elevated platforms, generally unbearably hot in the summer months and extremely cold in winter due to Malta’s high humidity levels. Residents lack any form of privacy as they often share containers and have little or no space to store their belongings. A reception area is used to provide information to new residents, but the Centre has little else in terms of activities or services. Ħal Far Tent Village is clearly intended to be temporary living space. Yet since residents reach here after weeks or months of detention and they are usually only permitted a stay of six months, the imposition of such a temporary accommodation structure and system is almost inhumane. It expects residents to overcome any personal issues they might have and set on the path of self-reliance in far too short a period. In most cases, applicants would not yet have received a decision on their procedure, further underlining their precarity and mental state of anxiety.
According to the Home Affairs Ministry, different activities are organised by the Migrants Advice Unit and Activity Team (AWAS) including football sessions, information sessions about various topics and English classes.[1]
Ħal Far Open Centre has two sections, one for families and the other for single women without children and for families. These two sections of the centres are separated, and men cannot enter the section for women and families. This Centre is able to provide better living conditions than HTV, mainly because it is an actual physical structure and because AWAS’ presence there is more significant. Families enjoy privacy and the space is generally safe.
Ħal Far is Malta’s largest industrial estate close to Malta’s airport. It is cut off from other towns and has no amenities since it is, in fact, not a town but an industrial zone. There are no residential areas and public transport connections are extremely sporadic. The closes town, so therefore the closest grocery stores, bars, cafes and other basic and social amenities is around a half hour’s walk from the Ħal Far.
Unaccompanied children are generally accommodated alone in the designated part of HTV or at Dar il-Liedna. Regulation 15 of the Reception Regulations specifies that unaccompanied children aged 16 years or over may be accommodated with adult asylum-seekers, and, in practice, this has been the case for UAMs living in Ħal Far. According to the Government, in 2023 no minors were accommodated in HTV.[2] Liedna is an apartment block in a central town in Malta (Fgura). Living conditions are comfortable, with various bedrooms and activity rooms for the children. The place is safe and is staffed 24/7. Since Liedna is located in a central town, residents are more well-connected with the public transport system and are able to have a more active social life. JRS reported that in 2023 the organisation collaborated on several activities within Dar il-Liedna, including language classes, access to education and information provision.[3]
AWAS indicated that vulnerable applicants and UAMs are usually accommodated near the Administration Block of each centre in order for them to have an easier access to the staff and services offered.
Apart from the above considerations (age, family composition), there are no clear allocation criteria on the basis of which persons are accommodated in specific centres.
[1] Information provided by Home Affairs Ministry in January 2024.
[2] Information provided by Home Affairs Ministry in January 2024.
[3] Information provided by JRS Malta in June 2024.