18 May 2013 | 16:13
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A study by the UNHCR Malta office revealed that half of the 400 respondents have never spoken to a refugee or migrant in their lives. However the same respondents said that they don’t see immigration as a threat to Maltese way of life.
The study published today is the result of a survey on perceptions in Malta regarding refugees and migrants. The report presents a picture of how refugees are viewed and received by the population in Malta. It describes to what extent interaction is happening at the local level and it seeks to assess the general public's awareness about key obstacles to integration.
The results from the survey reveal that there are many differing views on these issues within the Maltese population.
Primarily the majority of respondents disagreed with the statement that high levels of immigration constitute a threat to the way of life in Malta.
But more than two thirds of people surveyed say that they do not know any refugees or migrants personally, and almost half of those interviewed have never spoken with any such individuals.
At the same time most people say that they are well aware of discrimination affecting those who are trying to settle in Malta.
For this survey 400 randomly selected respondents living in Malta and Gozo were interviewed face to face in their own localities. The interviews took place during January 2012 by an independent research company, on behalf of UNHCR Malta.
The full report may be downloaded from the UNHCR Malta website www.unhcr.org.mt
Comments
neriku
- Tue 10-Jul-2012, 19:35The UNHCR''''''''s survey contrasts sharply with the fact that unfailingly over the years 90 percent plus of the Maltese stated that they do not want to have illegal immigration. Thus i find it hard to understand that now half of the population now thinks otherwise when just over a few months ago, surveys showed higher percentages. The Maltese are concerned about illegal immigration not just in terms of job loss and even non integration which did feature prominently in the survey but also in the way certain areas showed their concern about security. I think that somehow somewhere certain tests should have been retaken. Most polls go for around 1000 not 400 people. The UNHCR should surely delve into the matter of how and why the traffickers are not caught most of the time. What measures is it proposing to end illegal immigration. What measure is it taking to prevent the bad effects of uncontrolled illegal immigration as has happened in Athens.Its bias towards illegal immigration will fuel the rise and believe me the huge rise of Nazi parties very soon, if it does not address this situation. I do not want to see Rosarnos, Brixton, Toxteth, southern Athens, just as I do not want to see the rise of little Hitlers in the EU. That is what the league of nations exactly did when it appeased Hitler 80 years ago. Now for its own motives, which we have yet to understand, it does not condemn those who have no rights to be here and those who come over with ulterior motives and who abuse the asylum process. Make no mistake, the UNHCR will someday regret its attitude on this matter. it must host a summit on human trafficking and take sterner action.
Mauro Debattista
- Tue 10-Jul-2012, 16:06You don't have to be a genius to realize this is a fake survey.
Referendum 2
- Tue 10-Jul-2012, 16:00Referendum I agree with you 100 per cent. Let's have a referendum because we are totally fed up with the illegal immmigrants and their arrogance.
Referendum
- Tue 10-Jul-2012, 12:48This is a sham survey. If they really want to know the Maltese citizens opinion they would hold a referendum with the clear question of "Do you want to allow any illegal immigrants in Malta"? Do it if you dare.