65pc of Migrant Arrivals in Malta Are from Bangladesh

Up to 13 August this year 65% of the total 231 migrants who arrived in Malta by sea are from Bangladesh, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

Two medical evacuations were included in the total number of migrants, according to the group, which produced a factsheet on Friday (August 25). 

In all, 75 immigrants came in Malta during 2022. There were 2,045 in 2020, and there were 458 in 2021. 

This year, Bangladeshis made up 149 new applicants, or 65% of all new applicants, followed by 21 Syrians, 8% Guineans, 7% Cameroonians, 6% Egyptians, 2% Sudanese, and 1% each of Palestinian and South Sudanese ancestry. 

In the year 2022, 51% of the arrivals were Bangladesh, 28% Syrian and 8% Egyptian. UNHCR says this year marked a change in the composition of nationalities of arrivals in comparison to last year. 

Meanwhile, there were 282 applications for asylum in the first half of 2023. 225 of the applications were first-time, 54 were subsequent, and three were re-opened or reviewed.

Nationals from Bangladesh, Sudan and Syria were among the top three nationalities applying for asylum. 

The International Protection Agency has made 1,160 first-instance judgements by June 30. The rejection rate was 36% (421) compared to the recognized rate of 16% (178).

In 2023, there was an average 2.3-year delay for a first-instance judgment (substantive, award, or rejection).

After an average of 2.6 years for Syrians, 2.4 years for Eritreans, and 2.7 years for Somalis, international protection was provided. 

It took, on average, 2.9 years for Sudanese cases to be denied, 3.3 years for Syrian cases, 2.5 years for Somali cases, and about 54 days for Bangladeshi claims.