News
Global
07 August 2006

More Funds Needed to Evacuate Stranded Migrants

IOM is appealing to donors for more funds to help the increasing
numbers of stranded migrants in Lebanon in need of evacuation.

An IOM appeal last month for US$12 million to evacuate 10,000
undocumented and poor migrants from Lebanon and Syria met a swift
response from the European Commission and the US government, which
donated 11 million euros ($13.8 million) and one million dollars
respectively.

However, with little sign of the conflict in Lebanon ending
soon, IOM has seen increasing numbers of migrants seeking
evacuation assistance. At least half of those being helped are
escaping without their papers or salaries from employers who
don’t want to let them go. Many more are still trying to get
away.

Yesterday, in its largest convoy to date, 943 Ethiopians, Sri
Lankans, Nepalese and Filipinos were evacuated by IOM to Syria.
Today, a further 775 Filipinos, Sri Lankans, Cameroonians and
Vietnamese are being assisted. More than 8,000 migrants without
papers and/or means will have been helped by IOM to escape the
conflict in Lebanon by the end of Friday. IOM is also providing
food, shelter, medical and return assistance to their home
countries.

"We have seen significant increase in the numbers of migrants
turning up at embassies in the past few days wanting to be
evacuated. Yesterday, we were expecting to evacuate 250 Ethiopians
and had made plans accordingly, but more than 600 people turned up.
We managed to evacuate 409 Ethiopians in the end," said Vincent
Houver, IOM’s evacuation coordinator in Lebanon.

"With such large numbers of people being helped on a daily
basis, we expect our funds to run out very soon," added Houver. "We
need additional funds not only to help the thousands who can still
reach Beirut, but also people in the south who are as yet,
inaccessible."

Meanwhile, operations are becoming increasingly difficult. With
roads into Beirut and other strategic infrastructure north of the
capital being regularly bombed, IOM is being forced to adjust its
evacuation routes every day. The security situation is also making
it harder to find transport providers.

For further information, please contact:

Jean Philippe Chauzy in Beirut

Tel: + 41 79 285 4366

Jemini Pandya

IOM Geneva

Tel: + 41 22 717 9486

Mobile: + 41 79 217 3374

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

Related Information

"mailto:clom@iom.int">