A woman who is eight months pregnant was transferred to Malta by helicopter early this morning after she needed medical assistance soon after being rescued off a boat close to Libya, Italian media report.

She was among 4,400 migrants who were given assistance by Libyan authorities off the coast of Libya. The woman was transferred to Malta by means of an Italian military helicopter.

Italian media report that 22 rescue operations were carried out on Sunday and included the participation of Italian vessels, Norwegian ship Siem Pilot and Irish ship Le Niamh, both part of the Triton services, as well as the USS Enterprise, which forms part of the Eunavfor Med operation.