N’Djamena – On 28 April, 56 Chadian men – including 17 unaccompanied children – were assisted by IOM, the UN Migration Agency, after an operation conducted two days earlier by police forces at the Libyan border.

The operation targeted a network of traffickers transporting individuals to Libya, and led to the arrest of several criminals suspected of migrant trafficking. The 56 persons on board the two vehicles which were transporting them were found in bad physical condition, and were immediately transferred to the IOM sub-office in Faya, 300 kilometres from the Libyan border.

The 17 children were taken care of by the Chadian Red Cross, and the 39 adults received assistance (food and emergency shelter) from IOM. Individuals with serious health conditions (dehydration) were immediately referred to the nearest health centre. In coordination with the local authorities, IOM is now seeking to provide safe travel conditions to all those who wish to return home.

“When we were stopped by the police, we didn’t understand what was happening,” said Mahamet, a Chadian man rescued during the operation. “We didn’t know where we were. When we arrived at the IOM office, the situation was explained to us. We didn’t even know that our own security could be in danger when continuing this journey. When I left home, I didn’t know how difficult this would be. We were so thirsty and hungry, having sat in the blazing sun for hours. I cannot wait to return home. This has been a horrible experience.”

IOM Chad provided the emergency assistance with the financial support of US Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) but additional funds should be mobilized to respond to the increasing migratory pressure in the country.

“In recent weeks, more and more vulnerable migrants like this group are being referred to IOM Chad as movements through Chad are continuously increasing, and migrants often find themselves in life-threatening situations when crossing the desert unprepared,” said Anne Kathrin Schaefer, Chief of Mission of IOM Chad. “While IOM Chad is ready to support, our means and resources are extremely limited and we cannot cope with the increasing demands for humanitarian assistance.”

Recent migration trends in Chad and the security situation in the Lake Chad basin region have increased the pressure on local actors and international agencies such as IOM who do not have the required means to efficiently manage migration flows towards North Africa. In 2018, two Flow Monitoring Points (FMP) were put in place by the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams in Zouarke and Faya, two areas considered as the key transit points for migration flows towards Niger and Libya. Data collected in these two new FMPs as well as the existing one in Kalait will provide more accurate information on movements towards and from Chad.

In addition, the Tibesti Region in northern Chad, at the border with Libya, continues to attract sub-Saharan workers particularly due to the presence of gold mines considered by some people as an opportunity to make some money before continuing their journey up to Libya. Victims of trafficking were reported by the local authorities who indicated that some of the people transported by traffickers paid by “recruiters” were forced to work in the mines without payment to fully reimburse transportation and “placement” fees.

Financial support to Chad is therefore urgently needed to ensure a global approach to migration management, as well as the dignity and protection of returning migrants and migrants in transit countries.

For more information please contact IOM Chad: Anne Kathrin Schaefer, Tel: +235 60281778, Email: aschaefer@iom.int; or Idriss Achour, Tel: +235 62960472, Email: lachour@iom.int