Migrants transferred from Malta under EU deal

Three groups of migrants who were rescued in Malta's territorial waters were distributed among Germany, Lithuania and Romania on Thursday.

The distribution took place under the terms of a European Union (EU) brokered agreement reached before they were allowed into Malta.

Some of the migrants were among the 356 who were rescued at sea and brought to Malta on Aug. 23 by the NGO vessel Ocean Viking. France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania agreed to take in those migrants.

The other migrants were brought to Malta on Aug. 4 and Sept. 10 after having been rescued by the German vessel Alan Kurdi, operated by the NGO Sea-Eye.

The migrants were assisted by the Maltese authorities, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and officials from the respective embassies, the Maltese government said in a statement.

The statement did not specify how many migrants were transferred and how many remain in Malta.