160 undocumented Ethiopian migrants who were stranded in Libya with
no money or travel documents have benefited from IOM's voluntary
return and reintegration programme.

The 160 migrants boarded a chartered aircraft in the southern
Libyan town of Sebha on Tuesday for a five hour flight to Addis
Abeba. Upon arrival, they were met by IOM staff and provided with
immediate humanitarian support, including in-kind assistance of up
to 400 Euros per person to allow the returnees to start
income-generating activities.  

"This group of stranded migrants, like so many others, realized
they had no future in Libya and wanted to return home but couldn't
because they had no money or documentation," says Laurence Hart,
IOM's Chief of Mission in Tripoli. "Because Ethiopia has no
diplomatic representation in Libya, IOM facilitated several
consular visits, which allowed the re-documentation of the 160
stranded migrants." 

Some of the migrants helped by IOM said they had arrived in
Libya after perilous journeys across the Sahara. Many said they had
been in Libya for years, trying to seek out a living as
undocumented migrants or to save up for another perilous sea
journey towards Europe. 

"Many of the migrants said they were embarrassed to return home
empty-handed after having spent thousands of dollars to smuggling
networks," says IOM's Hart.  "IOM's reintegration assistance
helps them to come to terms with their failure and give them hope
they can have a future at home."

IOM's Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme is
funded by Italy, the United Kingdom and the European Commission and
is carried out in coordination with the Libyan and Ethiopian
authorities. 

The programme, set up in July 2006 has so far helped over 3800
stranded and often destitute migrants from African and Asia to
return home in dignity. 

Due to its geographical position, its relatively porous land and
sea borders, Libya is both a destination and a transit country for
undocumented migrants. They are drawn by the demand for unskilled
labour and the relative strength of the economy and are said to
number a million or more.

For further information, please contact:

Michele Bombassei

IOM Tripoli

Tel: +218 92 740 53 71

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