MOGADISHU (SD) – United Nation (UN) has helped 32 Somalis returned home through Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme.

The returnees are also eligible for in-kind reintegration support which can be in the form of social, psychosocial and economic assistance. 

Child migrant returnees qualify for assistance enabling them to return to school. Livelihood support can also be extended to the families of minors. 

In a statement, UN’s IOM said it has facilitated the safe return of 32 Somali migrants who cane on 18 and 23 November 2021.

“Currently, there are nearly 6,000 Somali migrants in Libya, many of whom are still stranded.” said Federico Soda, Chief of Mission, IOM Libya.  “The VHR programme is a lifeline for these migrants opting to return home and rebuild their lives.”

Among the returnees 10 arrived in Mogadishu and 22 who landed in Mogadishu.

Mariam Yassin, the Special Envoy for Migrants’ and Children’s Rights in the Office of the Federal Prime Minister of Somalia, welcomed the group of 10 returnees at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.

 “It was an overwhelming experience for all of us to see you back home. However, there are so many young men and women stranded in Libya and a lot still needs be done in terms of prevention. Every migrant has the right to go back home in a safe and dignified manner,” she said.

The VHR programme is funded by the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration (the EU-IOM Joint Initiative) and through the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Migration Fund.

Since 2015 the initiative has supported the safe return of over 53,000 migrants from Libya to various countries across Europe and Asia. To date, 638 Somalis have returned from Libya through the programme.