Mogadishu, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : A special charter flight organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has successfully brought 171 Somali migrants back to their homeland from Libya. This flight, which took place on September 15, included three minor children among the returnees.
The IOM reported that these migrants had traveled through several countries in search of better opportunities, only to face exploitation and abuse at the hands of human traffickers in Libya. Their safe return was coordinated by the organization.
Manuel Marques Pereira, the IOM’s head in Somalia, emphasized that migration should never jeopardize an individual’s safety, dignity, or future. He noted that through voluntary return and reintegration programs, Somali migrants are being given the chance 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, supported by the European Union. It first landed in Hargeisa, northern Somalia, where 42 migrants disembarked. The remaining passengers continued to the capital, Mogadishu, where they were welcomed by officials and family members.
Many of the returnees had been separated from their families for a long time and lacked access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and healthcare. Immediate humanitarian assistance and safety support have been provided to these individuals.
Since August 2022, approximately 2,000 Somali migrants have returned voluntarily from Libya through a partnership involving the European Union, the IOM, and the Somali government. More charter flights are planned before the end of 2026.
According to the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix report, hundreds of Somali migrants remain trapped in dire conditions in Libya, facing insecurity, food shortages, and a lack of shelter and medical facilities. Thousands are in need of humanitarian aid.
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