MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has welcomed 170 Somali migrants who returned home from Libya on Tuesday under a European Union-supported voluntary humanitarian return programme.
The return operation was conducted in coordination with the Somali Federal Government and supported by the European Union in Somalia through its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme, which helps vulnerable migrants return safely to their home countries.
The returnees included children and young adults who had endured difficult and dangerous circumstances during their irregular migration journeys and while stranded in Libya. Their return has provided an opportunity to reunite with their families after months of uncertainty and hardship.
Somalia’s Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh, said the migrants had faced serious humanitarian challenges in Libya, including exploitation by human traffickers and harsh conditions in detention centres.
Officials involved in the operation also confirmed that some of the returning migrants were experiencing health problems as a result of their difficult experiences in Libya.
The voluntary return programme aims to protect vulnerable migrants, provide humanitarian assistance and facilitate their safe and dignified return.
The latest repatriation highlights the ongoing challenges facing Somali migrants who undertake dangerous irregular migration routes in search of better opportunities abroad.
