A child migrant who travelled alone from northern Africa to Italy is to be reunited with her mother after a stroke of luck.

Four year-old Oumoh was taken from her father's family in Ivory Coast by her mother, who said she wanted to save her daughter from female genital mutilation.

The pair travelled together to Tunis, but were separated when Oumoh's mother left her with a friend while she went back home to collect some belongings.

The friend then had the chance to set sail for Italy and o took Oumoh with her, but they were also separated.

On 5 November, Oumoh was on a boat that was rescued at sea and was taken to the Italian island of Lampeduas with the other migrants.


None of the other passengers, who were mostly women and children, knew who she was.

Police Inspector Maria Volpe, known as "Mamma Maria" because she looks after migrant minors when they arrive in Sicily, went to collect Oumoh.

July: Shipwrecked migrants rescued in Italy

The little girl was then taken to a children's community in Palermo where fate intervened.

A police officer wanted to speak to the mother of an eight-year-old called Nassade and handed over their phone to the girl to distract her.

As Nassade looked through photos on the phone she recognised a picture of Oumoh.

"It's Oumoh, it's Oumoh!" Nassade suddenly said.

It appears the two young girls had met at a reception centre in Tunis, and Nassade's mother was able to provide the phone number for Oumoh's mother.

October: Thousands rescued off Libya

Ms Volpe said: "The mother may have been planning to embark too, but she was detained in the Ivory Coast longer than expected and when she returned to Tunis, her daughter was gone."

The 56-year-old added that Rome and Tunis are arranging to reunite mother and child, "probably via a family reunification visa for the mother".

A DNA test will be carried out as soon as possible to confirm their relationship.

"I am anxious to see the mother embrace her child. I hope we can receive this present before Christmas," Ms Volpe said.

"It touches your heart when you see the eyes of the children, who are so small.

"They cling to you quickly, you become their reference point. But it is an honour to be able to do this work with love and humanity."

At the start of November, Italian President Sergio Mattarella included "Mamma Maria" among 40 everyday heroes who will be awarded the order of merit this year.