A group of 20 refugees from Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan left Malta today to begin a new life in the United States.

Since the permanent refugee resettlement programme was announced last May, over 240 refugees have been resettled in the United States.

The programme is a collaborative partnership among the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Office of Migration (IOM), the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and a number of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jason Davis noted that the continuation of the refugee resettlement programme showed America’s continuing commitment to help ease the burden that migration placed on Malta, and that it demonstrated its recognition of the enormous challenges and dangers that many of the migrants faced.

“This occasion marks the culmination of months of hard work on the part of UNHCR, IOM, and the United States government, as well as many others here in Malta who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of hundreds of refugees in need of humanitarian assistance,” Mr Davis said.

He added that all refugees were assigned a sponsor agency that provided initial services such as housing, food, and clothing, as well as referral to medical care, employment services, and other support during a transition period lasting up to two years in order to ensure integration and assimilation.

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