Libya - The Government of the Netherlands has donated nearly EUR 1 million to fund a 12-month IOM project: Supporting Humanitarian Repatriation and Reintegration of Vulnerable Migrants out of Libya.

It will provide assistance to some 400 stranded migrants who voluntarily return to their countries of origin.  Of these, 180 particularly vulnerable migrants will be eligible for post-arrival reintegration support. 

The project will particularly target migrants rescued at sea or detained in Libyan immigration detention centres, including victims of trafficking, according to Dutch Ambassador to Libya Eric Strating, who notes that voluntary return of vulnerable migrants to their country of origin is an integral part of the solution to the Libyan migrant crisis.

The number of migrants seeking voluntary return assistance from IOM Libya has steadily increased, as the security situation in the country remains volatile.

As of 5 December, 2,463 migrants have returned home with IOM this year, mainly to sub-Saharan Africa. This is more than double the 1,113 who returned in 2015.

For further information, please contact IOM Libya. Othman Belbeisi, Tel: +216 29 600389, Email: obelbeisi@iom.int or Ashraf Hassan, Tel: +216 29 794707, Email: ashassan@iom.int