The Armed Forces of Malta said in a statement that it would like to rebut allegations made by the Italian media and is laying down the events that unfolded on June 7th 2014 in its support.

It was responding to the allegations made by the Italian news agency Ansa that had reported that the AFM had abandoned the migrants.

The AFM said”Following information received by RCC MT and from an AFM Maritime Patrol Aircraft that was flying over the area (80 Nautical Miles South of Malta) together with converging information received by the Italian Maritime rescue and coordination centre in Rome, the Armed Forces of Malta deployed an inshore patrol vessel P23 towards the area.”

The AFM said that “the tanker MV Norient Star transiting in the vicinity of the reported dinghy was diverted to the area by the Maltese Rescue Coordination Centre to render assistance also in view that there were other multiple cases evolving in the area.

“At 1210hrs the tanker MV Norient Star successfully located an 8 metre rubber dinghy with around 120 migrants onboard and the AFM’s Inshore Patrol vessel P23, arrived shortly after. P23 immediately handed over life jackets and water to all migrants onboard.

“At this time, another distress call was received by the Maltese Rescue Coordination centre with a case of 128 migrants calling for help just 25 nautical miles away from the location of P23. Initial information indicated that this case required urgent intervention as the migrant’s dinghy was taking in water and rapidly deflating.”

The AFM pointed out that “no other merchant vessel was in the vicinity and all the Italian and Maltese naval and coast guard vessels in the area were all assigned on other operations.”

“Considering that the migrant boat that P23 was attending to was under control and under the custody of the merchant vessel, P23 was immediately instructed to intercept the sinking dinghy some 25 nautical miles away. RCC MT instructed MV Norient Star to embark all the third country nationals onboard since the AFM vessel was proceeding immediately to another rescue,” the AFM said.

“The AFM patrol vessel managed to intercept the other dinghy in distress and confirmed reports that the dinghy was deflating rapidly and all migrants were without life jackets. All migrants from this (second) dinghy were successfully rescued onboard P23 and disembarked safely in Malta early the next morning. “

The AFM said that “the tanker MV Norient later reported to the Rescue and Coordination centre in Malta that during the transfer of migrants from their dinghy onto his vessel an accident took place were the migrants dinghy hit the gangway of the ship and deflated. As a result, 5 migrants died 3 of who were transferred onboard the ship whilst 2 others were lost at sea.”

The AFM stated that “it is crucial to note that had the P23 remained with the MV Norient Star and not intervened in the other dinghy the loss of lives would have been potentially of 128 persons. These operations happened in Malta’s Search and Rescue region in an area well outside the routine operating areas of P23 which is a coastal patrol vessel.”

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