Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1499757
10 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 MAY 2023 KURT SANSONE REFURBISHMENT works in all compounds and residential blocks operated by the Detention Servic- es Agency will be completed by the end of this year, the agency said. Works started in 2020 includ- ed the installation of new van- dal proof utilities, additional and brand-new sanitary facilities, new apertures in all living quarters and a comprehensive CCTV system in all areas. The agency refuted critical claims made in a report compiled by human rights organisation Adi- tus for AIDA, the asylum informa- tion database, that substandard conditions are still the norm for migrants in detention. At the same time, the Monitor- ing Board for Detained Persons, a government watchdog, highlight- ed certain misgivings in a separate report on their 2021 site visit that was tabled in parliament recently. But the agency is refuting the claims, insisting that a lot of work has been done since 2020 to ad- dress the issues flagged. Two new accommodation blocks and a clinic were built, which helped eliminate overcrowding and enabled the management to house migrants according to pro- tection needs, a spokesperson for DSA said. "These changes also made it pos- sible for the detainees to use the outdoor facilities for the whole day, except night-time," he added. China House The organisation also refuted claims that the building known as China House, which is being used as a reception centre for newly arrived migrants, is structurally unsound. The claim was made in both reports. "The building never had any structural problems and constant maintenance works are carried out, usually after the migrants using it are either transferred to open centres or to the detention centre in Safi," the DSA said. It added: "The Hal Far Immigration Reception Centre (China House) was renovated in the year 2020 and was initially being used as a designated COVID-19 quarantine facility for irregular migrants." The Malta Red Cross was en- gaged three years ago to run the medical operation of this com- pound and remains engaged till today. The building is now used to accommodate migrants for a tem- porary period, normally in the days following their arrival in Malta. The DSA also refuted claims on the lack of communication facil- ities, adding that a new television and telephone system was intro- duced in the past years. "All new arrivals are given access to the phone on the same day they arrive at the centre and those who do not manage to do so are as- sisted to use applications such as WhatsApp and IMO," the agency said. It added that new meeting facili- ties were built and additional space for such visits will be provided in the next few days. These new fa- cilities will be equipped with an open phone line system for law- yers, NGO representatives, inter- preters, family members and other visitors. Healthcare The DSA said the medical clinic at the Safi Detention Centre is of the same standards as every other health centre in Malta. "It involves round the clock pres- ence of nurses, daily GP clinic, quasi-daily psychiatric clinic, GU clinic, dermatology clinic and oth- er services… All complaints are triaged by nurses and doctors who are aware of all minor or major cases," the agency said. It insisted that medications are given based on an inpatient-style treatment chart and filed in the person's health records. Nurses are allowed to triage the need for basic analgesia if needed or upon a patient's request. It also refuted claims that treat- ment is sometimes stopped sud- denly. "All treatments are given using a treatment chart and any lapse must be justified. When de- tainees are transferred from one compound to another, the nurs- ing team are required to provide a medical handover which is doc- umented. The same procedure is applied when a detainee is released from the closed facilities and pro- vided with a Medical Handover Sheet with extra supplies of medi- cation for the upcoming days." Increased security The DSA said security at de- tention centres has been beefed up to ensure more accountability among officers and reduce vandal- ism. A surveillance system is also installed in the vans which trans- port detainees to different areas, it noted. The agency refuted suggestions that migrants were not provid- ed with adequate clothing for the winter. "Winter clothes such as thermal underwear, track suits, thermal socks and blankets are constantly being made available to everyone. The claim by the au- thor of the AIDA report that such clothing is not being provided is also false." It also clarified that all people ad- mitted to detention are provided with the necessary documentation in a language they understand. The agency said training is pro- vided on a continuous basis, in accordance with a schedule and provided to all new and veteran staff. Detention Services Agency refutes claims that centres for detained migrants are substandard The DSA said security at detention centres has been beefed up to ensure more accountability among officers