Hate speech increased significantly over the past few months as more rescued migrants landed here, SOS Malta warned.
There was a rise in hate comments posted online, sparked off by talk about migrants, the NGO’s head, Claudia Taylor-East, said. She admitted she was worried the hate was addressed at people “fleeing persecution and looking for a haven”.
The saga of the vessel Sea-Watch 3, which was stranded in the Mediterranean for over 10 days with 32 men and women as well as three children and three unaccompanied minors on board again brought the issue of migrants into the public eye. They were rescued from an unseaworthy rubber boat in international waters about 27 nautical miles off Sabrata, in Libya, earlier this month.
Two NGO boats left Malta with supplies to support the Sea-Watch 3 on Friday.
The Armed Forces of Malta rescued 180 migrants in two operations on Monday. They were brought to Malta.
Organisations like Sea-Watch and SOS Malta continued to face “baseless” accusations that they had misused funds, Ms Taylor-East said, adding NGOs were held “extremely accountable” for their actions and spending.
In view of the latest influx of migrants, SOS Malta is appealing for…
