IOM's voluntary return and reintegration programme for irregular
migrants stranded in Libya en route to Europe will likely be cut
due to a lack of funding, despite increased demand for its
services.

"Every week, hundreds of vulnerable migrants, mainly from
Sub-Saharan Africa, but also from Asia, are referred to IOM by
religious and charitable institutions or by their embassies to ask
for voluntary return and reintegration assistance," says Laurence
Hart, IOM's Chief of Mission in Tripoli.

"Over the past two years, we have provided comprehensive return
and reintegration assistance to some 2,200 stranded migrants from
22 countries, but our appeal launched in April for EUR 1.25 million
to keep the programme running has not generated any concrete
pledges from donors," he adds.

In March, IOM opened the first humanitarian centre for stranded
migrants in Tripoli to provide vulnerable migrants with medical
assistance, support and counselling.  The centre, part of a
broader project co-financed by the European Union and Italy, with
additional support from the United Kingdom, also offers temporary
accommodation for up to 40 people. But without new funding, it will
be forced to close by mid-August.

"This would have a dire impact on so many undocumented migrants
who have come to rely on IOM to return home," says Mali's
ambassador to Libya, H.E Ousmane Tandja.

"IOM has applied to the EU for new project funding and a
decision is expected later this year," says Peter Schatzer, IOM's
Director for the Mediterranean.  "But without immediate
bridging funds, the programme will have to close.  As a
result, migrants will be left without the option of voluntary
return and reintegration and some may well risk their lives to
reach Europe."

With some 4,000 kilometres of land and 1,700 kilometres of sea
borders, Libya is both a transit and a destination country for
migrants.  Irregular migrants are drawn to Libya by the demand
for unskilled labour and the strength of the local economy, and now
number close to a million.  Many remain stranded in transit,
unable to get to Europe or to return home.

To find out more about the plight of stranded migrants in Libya,
please go to:

"/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/published_docs/periodicals_and_newsletters/Migration%20July08_EN.pdf"
target="_blank" title="">This link

For further information, please contact:

Laurence Hart

IOM Tripoli

Tel: +218 91 383 25 96

E-mail: "mailto:lhart@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">lhart@iom.int

or

Peter Schatzer

IOM Rome

Tel: +39 06 440 38 07

E-mail: "mailto:pschatzer@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">pschatzer@iom.int