Sixty-six migrants who were stranded in camps in Libya have arrived in Rwanda, these are the first group to be relocated following agreement between Rwanda, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the African Union.

“Special thanks goes to all the people of Rwanda who have been sharing heartwarming welcome messages all day long,” the UNHCR tweeted after their arrival on Thursday night.

Rwanda has agreed to take in more than 500 migrants who had become trapped in dangerous conditions in Libya while trying to reach Europe.

The UN says the first group includes many unaccompanied children, single mothers and families – some of whom are from the Horn of Africa.

The youngest passenger was a two-month-old girl born to Somali parents, the UNHCR said:

The migrants, who are being transferred on a voluntary basis, will be staying at Gashura transit centre, about 55km (34 miles) south of the capital, Kigali.

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