The migrants, including Libyans, sub-Saharan Africans and Afghans, boarded two buses at a Malta Armed Forces base in Valletta after being transferred from the Aquarius to a Maltese patrol boat in international waters. “We hope that they will leave Malta in a few days,” UNHCR representative Paolo Biondi told AFP at the base. France has agreed to take 18 of the migrants, Germany and Spain 15 each and Portugal 10. The Aquarius, chartered by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SOS Mediterranee, is the only civilian ship still trying to rescue migrants making the perilous journey from North Africa to Europe. With no flag, Aquarius was expected to sail for its home port of Marseille in southern France.

Source: Punch September 30, 2018 14:15 UTC