Two groups of immigrants who disembarked in Malta following their rescue by the Armed Forces in Malta at the end of December departed Malta for relocation in France and Luxembourg, respectively, early on Thursday.

The immigrants were assisted by local authorities, the International Organisation for Migration authorities, and officials from the Embassy of France and the Consulate of Luxembourg in Malta.

These relocation processes are the result of an ad hoc agreement struck between the European Commission, Malta and other EU states following the Sea Watch III and Albrecht Penck saga in early January of this year.