Two Somali families were reunited on Saturday morning after more than two years apart.

On Friday, a Somali mother of two, was told that her husband was among one of 27 people aboard a boat that capsized off the Maltese coast. Fearing the worst, she believed that her husband had died. The woman had arrived in Malta two years ago, pregnant and with another six-month-old baby.

On Saturday morning, she received a phone call from someone who told her that her husband was alive after all and was staying at the detention centre in Hal Far and that she could speak to him on the phone.

When the officer in charge at Hal Far was told about the case, he gave permission for the woman to go to Hal Far and see her husband.

The woman was accompanied by another Somali national who was informed that his wife and three children were also there.

Later that afternoon, the two families were reunited in what was a very emotional event for the two families. For the fathers, it was even more special because they saw some of their children for the first time.

The director of the immigrants’ commission, Mgr Philip Calleja said that on their return to Balzan, the Somali woman and the other man were extremely happy.

On Sunday, the two families were allowed to meet again.