Syria - On Wednesday, 16 September 2015, 36 Syrian migrants were identified by Malian forces in the Region of Gao. These migrants were transiting in this northern region of the country, apparently bound for Algeria.

The Syrian migrants – including 17 minors and 9 women – arrived in Mali via Mauritania. In coordination with the National Directorate of Social Development (DNDS), a directorate under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Action and the Reconstruction of the North, IOM Mali provided them with food assistance while the DNDS provided non-food relief items, including sleeping mats and covers.

The food assistance is provided by IOM through its emergency fund.

The region of Gao is known to be one of the busiest transit points for sub-Saharan Africans on clandestine routes to Europe via the Sahara desert. However, for this time being is it unknown if the Syrian migrants were trying to reach Europe through Algeria.

For more information, please contact: Aminta Dicko, IOM Mali, Tel: +223 9050 0007, Email: adicko@iom.int.