Malta, Italy to reunite seven migrants with relatives

Seven of the migrants who were saved from a tragic shipwreck off Lampedusa on 11 October will be reunited with their surviving relatives in Italy today.

Around 150 migrants were brought to Malta by the Armed Forces of Malta, including 20 women and 17 children, during the rescue of at least 206 migrants. A group of 50 were taken to Lampedusa, while the rest were brought to Malta.

The Maltese and Italian authorities remained in constant contact to determine the number of families which had been separated.

The migrants will be meeting their relatives at 6pm. "Both countries and the UNHCR, as well as Save The Children, worked together for the reunification. The asylum seekers will be applying for protection in Italy," Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia told the press at the Malta International Airport departures lounge.

It is believed that some 50 migrants could have drowned in the tragedy. A large number of migrants were of Syrian and Palestinian origin travelling away from the Syrian conflict and looking for asylum in a European country.

Photos of survivors were exchanged between the two countries and the Maltese government proceeded to issuing travel documents allowing the seven migrants in Malta to travel to Italy. DNA checks were also carried out by the Italian authorities.