Blessing might have an uncle in Malta

Blessing, the one-year-old orphan rescued from a sinking boat earlier this month, is thought to have an uncle living in Malta.

A woman who claimed she is the infant's aunt was the one to point this out, although she was unable to identify the man.

The woman, Benedicte, was rescued from the same boat with her two-month-old daughter.

The uncle is thought to be the brother of Blessing's Nigerian father, Dadau, who died on June 10 together with his Cameroonian wife Morine.

Earlier this week Benedicte formally declared to be Blessing's aunt, her mother's sister.

In a signed declaration, she gave the names of the parents, saying that the child was born in Sabha, Libya, on June 13 last year.

The declaration was made as the Emigrants' Commission continues working to formally register the infant.

Commission head Mgr Philip Calleja had pointed out that Blessing's birth had not been registered and the commission wanted to rectify this so that the baby would eventually be able to access records of her identity and know who her parents were.

Although Blessing was initially put in the care of the Ursuline Sisters, she was reunited with her aunt last week but the authorities are still monitoring the situation to find the best way forward.

Her case was a first for Malta, with the child being the youngest unaccompanied minor to ever arrive on the island.