A group of 102 refugees left Malta to embark on a new life in Germany this morning. They are from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The group left Malta as part of the Eurema pilot project which aims to provide solutions in other EU member states for 225 individuals granted status in Malta. Participating countries include France, Germany, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakkia, Romania and the United Kingdom.

In Malta the project is jointly implemented by the Home Affairs Ministry, IOM, UNHCR and the Emigrant’s Commission. The relocation to Germany is the largest yet, following the departure of 92 individuals to France in July this year.

UNHCR Malta is responsible for the identification and initial screening of potential candidates for relocation to the respective participating countries. The assessment process is based on individual needs and agreed selection criteria. It is the receiving countries that take the final decision about who to accept for relocation.

This is the third time that the German government has accepted a number of refugees who have been stranded in Malta for resettlement on humanitarian grounds.

The migrants were seen off by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and German Ambassador Bernd Braun.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that the resettlement was the result of Malta's work in the EU where it managed to obtained an important package through which a number of EU countries were helping the country by sharing the burden.

He also thanked Germany for its gesture.

Mr Braun said that the resettlement to Germany was a sign of German solidarity with Malta and with the refugees.

Around 750 African immigrants living in Malta are in the process of being resettled to the US and several EU countries over the coming 12 months, the UN Refugee Agency said in June. Most are going to the US but France took a group of 92 migrants in April after having taken another large group late last year.