Rescued infant back at crèche after 'aunt' admits she is not related

Blessing, the one-year-old migrant girl who was saved from a sinking boat two months ago, is back at the Ursuline Sisters Crèche in Sliema after the woman she was handed over to admitted she is not related to her after all.

The Cameroonian-Nigerian infant was initially put in the care of Benedicte, who had claimed to be a sister to Blessing's mother, Morine.

Alex Tortell, operations director within the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry, said Blessing has now been put under a care order and that a final decision in her best interest has not yet been taken. The possibility of fostering or adoption is not being excluded.

Blessing, the youngest unaccompanied minor ever to arrive on the island among illegal immigrants, was one of two infants rescued on June 10.

Her parents, Cameroonian Morine and Nigerian Dadau, as well as her brother are believed to have drowned as they crossed over from Africa in search of a new life in Europe.

It has been established that the youngster has an uncle living here. The man was pointed out by Benedicte and has claimed he is Dadau's brother.

Sr Stefania Caruana, who looks after the children at the Crèche, said the infant - who turned one the same week she was saved from the sea - was doing extremely well, and loved playing in the home's garden.

"She enjoys playing with the other children," she said. In a soft voice showing the love she has for the children in her care, Sr Stefania said the orphan does not have a favourite toy but runs around playing with everything.

"We have a slide and a bicycle in the garden... she goes for everything," she said, adding that the youngster did not only know how to walk, but was already running around.

Blessing is not fussy and eats like an older child. "She does not like baby food. If we have chips or sausages, she eats them."