34 migrants resettled in the US

Thirty-four migrants who had humanitarian protection in Malta have left for the United States for resettlement.

The resettlement programme is a collaboration between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization of Migration (IOM), the Emigrants’ Commission, the US and Maltese governments. The UNHCR has so far been able to refer more than 260 cases to the United States for resettlement.

The Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs said Holland, Ireland, Lithuania, Germany and Portugal had also resettled some migrants from Malta.

“Whilst thanking these fellow (EU) member states for their support, the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs will continue to impress upon all EU Members States that Malta cannot be expected to shoulder this disproportionate burden alone” the ministry said.

It pointed out that according to UNHCR report Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized countries, during 2003-2007 Malta ranked third in the number of asylum applications received per 1,000 inhabitants.