Twenty refugees from Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan left Malta to begin a new life in the US earlier this month.

Since the US Embassy began its permanent refugee resettlement programme in May 2008, it has taken 434 refugees from Malta.

The latest group will be resettled in cities across the US, including Houston, Minneapolis, San Diego and Seattle.

US Ambassador Douglas Kmiec said: "Nothing has made me more proud as ambassador to Malta than to help those refugees most in need, while also assisting the people of Malta to handle the challenges posed by migration in a compassionate and humanitarian way."

Once they arrive in the US, each refugee will be assigned a sponsor agency that provides 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 to ensure integration.

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