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Somalia repatriates 147 migrants stranded in Libya’s trafficking networks


Wednesday December 18, 2024


Somali migrants return home from Libya under the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, facilitated by Somalia's government, the EU, and IOM. The group disembarks at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu after enduring harrowing conditions abroad. Credit / SONNA

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has ramped up its mission to rescue and repatriate citizens trapped in Libya's nightmarish trafficking network. The latest operation brought 147 Somali migrants home, including 31 who landed in Hargeisa and 116 who continued to Mogadishu.

The charter flight was part of the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, a lifeline for migrants stranded in Libya's shadowy underworld of human trafficking. Greeted at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport by Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and EU Ambassador Karin Johansson, the returnees carried tales of unimaginable suffering.

"This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of all Somalis in need of return support," Minister Fiqi stated, emphasizing the importance of ensuring dignity and support for returning citizens.

The latest flight is the third in two months under the Migrant Protection, Return, and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA). To date, 844 Somali migrants have been returned from Libya through this EU-funded initiative, managed by IOM. Returnees receive immediate assistance, including small cash grants, temporary housing, and medical care. Additional support, such as financial aid, helps them reintegrate into their communities.

"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.

Libya has become a perilous waypoint for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. According to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix, over 1,300 Somali migrants remain stranded in the country, many living in dangerous and inhumane conditions. Migrants often fall prey to human traffickers, known locally as "Magafe," who subject them to torture, starvation, and extortion.

Abdirahman Ali Sheikh, one of the recently repatriated migrants, shared his ordeal: "I regret ever leaving Somalia. What I endured in Libya was unimaginable. Now I realize there's no better place than home."



 





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