Stranded Somalis arrive home from Libya
Tripoli/Mogadishu - The first group of stranded Somalis arrived home from Libya on Saturday 17 February through the EU-IOM joint initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration and in partnership with the Federal Government of Somalia.
The Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) operation was arranged by IOM, while the Federal Republic of Somalia had been instrumental in supporting the safe return of Somali nationals, led by Ali Faqi, Somali Ambassador to EU, Mariam Yassin, Special Envoy for Migrants and Children’s Rights (OSE), and Ahmed Nur, Commissioner for the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI).
The group consisted of two women, four men, and five children. “Among this group are migrants who have spent three years in the hands of smugglers in Kufra, [in] south Libya. And now Allah saved them from the unbearable torments and torture they have been mentally and physically subjected to," said Mariam Yassin, Special Envoy for Migrants and Children's Rights of Somalia, was among the delegation sent by the Somali Government to Libya last.
“These returnees have experienced a horrific ordeal, we are proud to bring them home, our plan is to repatriate all those who want to return home,” said Ahmed Nur, Somalia's Commissioner of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI).
When interviewed by the Somali media, Ali*, one of the returnees said he lost several of his Somali friends during the journey. "I was among 150 migrants packed into a truck by smugglers from Sudan — 100 Eritreans and 50 Somalis. They mercilessly forced us into a truck that fit only 30 people. Some of the Somali migrants were thrown out of the truck into the desert. Then we fought with others for survival. Several of my friends were killed during the conflict," Ali said.
In Libya, the individuals contacted their Government for help getting home. The Somali Government had then reached out to IOM, who worked to provide pre-departure and return assistance in coordination with UNHCR.
After pre-departure support including medical check-ups and further assistance, like new clothes and shoes, the flight departed from Tripoli’s Mitiga airport. IOM then received the returnees in Mogadishu and those who required short term accommodation were hosted at the waystation run by NCRI with support of UNHCR.
Providing reintegration assistance for returning migrants
All returnees will be provided with reintegration support in Somalia. Working with relevant partners, IOM will assess their vulnerabilities and needs and can also support medical or psychological treatment that they need as a consequence of their time in Libya. Post arrival assistance and reintegration support will be provided through the ’ Facility on Sustainable and Dignified Return and Reintegration in support of the Khartoum Process programme’ funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.
“IOM is proud to have supported the Government’s mission to Libya and will continue to work with UNHCR and the Government to support the return of these vulnerable migrants,” said Dyane Epstein, IOM Somalia’s Chief of Mission. “IOM has supported over 100,000 Somali migrants returning from Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Africa and will be at the forefront of the support to those stranded in Libya. We would like to thank the Somali Government and the European Union for their coordination and support in this most recent operation.”
Background
According to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report last December, there were over 621,000 migrants recorded in Libya but the true figure is estimated to be over 700,000, with the majority coming from Egypt, Niger, and Chad. IOM is working with the Libyan and Somali Governments to find out how many are in the country and how many may want to return home.
*All returnees’ names have been changed to protect their identity.
For more information please contact Programme Support Unit at IOM Somalia, Tel: +254715990600, Email: iomsomaliapsu@iom.int
Contacts: Attention: Anders Guettou DJURFELDT and Abdikadir Abdi