Mogadishu, SONNA)— The Federal Government of Somalia, the European Union, and the International Organization for Migration are jointly scaling up support for Voluntary Humanitarian Returns to assist Somali migrants stranded in Libya, offering a safe, humane and dignified route home.
A charter flight carrying 147 young Somali migrants, including several minors, landed in Hargeisa disembarking 31 migrants, before continuing to Mogadishu with the remaining 116 returning migrants. In Mogadishu, the group was welcomed by the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Federal Government of Somalia officials, and the EU Ambassador to Somalia.
This is the third such Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight in two months, under the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA project); as of today, a total of 844 Somali migrants have returned from Libya and supported for their reintegration in Somalia, through this project.
“The Federal Government of Somalia, with the invaluable support of the European Union and IOM, is ensuring that our citizens can return home with dignity and receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of all Somali in need of return support,” said Ahmed Fiqi, Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
“I am genuinely moved and happy to see more Somali migrants safely returning home after being trapped in Libya in precarious and often life-threatening conditions. These Voluntary Humanitarian Return flights underscore the strength of our collaboration and our shared dedication to providing the safety and dignity of Somali migrants,” said Karin Johansson, the EU Ambassador to Somalia.
According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, there are more than 1,300 Somali migrants stranded in Libya. Insecurity and the lack of essentials such as food, shelter and healthcare in Libya expose migrants to many protection risks. Thousands urgently require protection and humanitarian assistance.
Under Somalia’s MPRR-SSA project, funded by the European Union and managed by IOM, the organization assists Somali migrants in returning home. Upon return, the migrants are supported with small cash grants to address immediate needs, temporary accommodation, medical assistance (including mental health and psychosocial support) and onward transportation for those reuniting with families outside of the capital, later complemented with direct financial support to facilitate their reintegration into local communities.
