11 Somalis and Eritreans left Malta today to start a new life in the United States.

The immigrants – nine singles and a couple, went to the US under the US Refugee Resettlement Programme.

They departed on a flight to London from where they will transit to their flight to New York. On arrival, they will be assisted by non-governmental organisations to proceed to their final destinations in various states.

They were selected following a process involving the UNHCR (Malta office) as well as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) at various stages. US Government officials also conduct interviews in Malta.

This latest departure brings the total of beneficiaries of international protection resettled to the United States from Malta since 2007 to 847.

This was the third such departure this month. In all, 46 migrants were resettled from Malta this month.

Since 2005, 1,444 refugees and beneficiaries of international protection were reallocated to various developed countries.

The migrants who left this morning were seen off by the Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Elijah Waterman, Press and Cultural Attaché at the United States embassy and representatives of the IOM.

The minister thanked the US government, IOM, UNHCR and ministry officials involved in this process.

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