IOM is deeply concerned at the fate of at least 6,000 migrants
stranded in the Libyan city of Misrata in an extremely poor state
with an IOM-chartered boat currently en route to the city's port
aiming to rescue as many as it can.

After many weeks of living often in the open, limited food, no
clean water and in fear, it has been reported to IOM that the
migrants are in a desperately worrying condition with many severely
dehydrated and weak.

Of the 6,000 awaiting evacuation, two thirds are Egyptians, with
also large groups of Nigeriens, Bangladeshis, Ghanaians, Sudanese
and Nigerians and other nationalities such as Iraqis and
Tunisians.

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"IOM has been trying for several weeks to evacuate the migrants
from Misrata but much to our frustration it has not been possible
until now. From reports on the ground, this rescue mission cannot
come soon enough," says an IOM staff member on the boat. "It is
going to be heartbreaking not being able to take everyone out at
once."

The Organization, which is constantly struggling with a shortage
of funds to provide evacuation and other humanitarian assistance to
the hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing Libya, doesn't
currently have sufficient funds to evacuate all of the estimated
6,000 in Misrata.

"We should not be put in a position of deciding who we save when
so many people are in an appalling situation everywhere," says
Fernando Calado, IOM's Head of Emergencies and Post Crisis
Division.

The IOM-chartered boat which has a capacity of 800 people is
also carrying hundreds of tons of urgently needed humanitarian aid
to Misrata.

The boat is loaded with more than 400 tons of food, non-food and
medical assistance which IOM staff say shows an outpouring of
goodwill from the Libyan population.

Libyan businesses, private individuals as well as national and
international non-governmental organizations such as the Libyan Red
Crescent, Libyan Appeal Team, Mercy Corps, ACTED and Cesvi have
donated the goods and medical supplies. These include food, both
dried and fresh, water, baby food and baby supplies, as well as
medicines and medical supplies for hospitals.

The Libyan Appeal Team has donated 108 tons of 27 kilo family
food parcels for immediate distribution, with each parcel able to
provide a family with basic nutrition.

The aid contributions are based on what is needed in the city.
This includes 195 tons of pasta which is in extremely short supply
as well as fresh food such as onions and other vegetables.

Medical supplies are based on what doctors who have left Misrata
have informed are desperately needed in hospitals in the city.

The humanitarian aid on the boat will help to alleviate some of
the suffering in the city with reports that at least 2,000 families
have been displaced by fighting there and who are currently either
being hosted by other families or seeking shelter wherever they can
find it.

IOM is liaising with aid committees on the ground which will
organize and carry out the aid distributions.

For further information, please contact:

Jemini Pandya

IOM Geneva

Tel: +41 22 717 9486

       +41 79 217 3374

E-mail: "mailto:jpandya@iom.int">jpandya@iom.int

or

Jumbe Omari Jumbe

Tel: +41 22 717 9405

       +41 79 812 7734

E-mail: "mailto:jjumbe@iom.int">jjumbe@iom.int