Mogadishu, September 14 (Udaipur Kiran) : A special charter flight organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) successfully brought 171 Somali migrants back to their homeland from Libya on Monday. Among the returnees were three minors.
These migrants had traveled through multiple countries in search of a better life but found themselves facing exploitation and harsh conditions at the hands of human traffickers in Libya. The IOM arranged for their safe return as part of a voluntary repatriation program.
Manuel Marques Pereira, the IOM’s Somalia chief, emphasized that migration should never endanger a person’s safety, dignity, or future. He noted that the program offers Somali migrants an opportunity to restart their lives safely and with respect in their home country.
The charter flight was conducted under the Migrant Protection, Return, and Reintegration in Sub-Saharan Africa program, with support from the European Union (EU). The aircraft first landed in Hargeisa, northern Somalia, where 42 migrants disembarked, before proceeding to the capital, Mogadishu, where they were welcomed by officials and family members.
Many of the returning migrants had been separated from their families for an extended period and faced a lack of basic necessities such as food, shelter, and healthcare. Immediate humanitarian assistance and security support were provided to these individuals upon their return.
Since August 2022, nearly 2,000 Somali migrants have been voluntarily repatriated from Libya through the partnership of the EU, IOM, and the Somali government. More charter flights are planned for the end of 2026.
According to the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix report, hundreds of Somali migrants remain trapped in dire conditions in Libya, where insecurity, food shortages, and lack of shelter and medical facilities have left thousands in need of humanitarian aid.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.