Banjul – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on 13 February facilitated the voluntary humanitarian return of 178 Gambian migrants stranded in Libya through a return flight. 

This represents the highest number of Gambian migrants assisted with voluntary return so far this year. The migrants returned included 171 men, 3 women and 4 children. 

“This assistance reflects IOM’s rights-based approach to support Gambian migrants that are in need of protection assistance,” emphasized Sibgha Ajaz, IOM’s Officer-in-Charge in The Gambia.

Prior to departure, IOM staff in Tripoli provided all returning migrants with health checks and pre-departure transportation assistance, counselling services and protection screening.

The returnees from Libya included vulnerable migrants who had been subject to exploitation and violence. Since 2017, over 12,000 Gambians have benefitted from IOM's Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) and Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, which offer a dignified and safe return for migrants stranded in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Niger and other key migration routes and destination countries in Africa and Europe.  

This assistance includes registration, accommodation, food, health care, psychosocial support, and assistance in the delivery of consular documents, before they return to their country of origin.

"I am happy to be back home safe. I cannot wait to see my family and friends again,” said 23-year-old Lamin Sarr* at the Banjul International Airport. “I look forward to my reintegration to pursue my dreams,” he added.

Upon arrival in The Gambia, returnees received a comprehensive orientation on the process of receiving reintegration assistance – which may include economic, social and psychosocial support, tailored to each returnee’s needs. 

The returns were made possible through the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA), funded by the European Union. 

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*Name has been changed to protect his identity 

For more information, please contact: 

Lamin W Sanneh, Tel: +220 330 3256, Email: lasanneh@iom.int