Latest news with #InternationalOrganizationforMigration
Libya Observer
2 days ago
- Libya Observer
158 migrants deported from Libya to Bangladesh with IOM support
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Tripoli announced that 158 Bangladeshi migrants stranded in Libya were deported to Dhaka Airport on Tuesday through the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, funded by the European Union. According to local Bangladeshi media, the migrants had been held at a migration center in Tripoli before their deportation, which was coordinated between the foreign ministries of Libya and Bangladesh. The embassy also told the Bangladeshi newspaper Migrant News that a second flight is planned to deport more citizens, including 161 individuals, though the final number may vary slightly. News Tagged: repatriation Bangladesh
Libya Review
2 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
123 Bangladeshi Migrants Repatriated from Libya
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya has successfully facilitated the safe repatriation of 123 distressed Bangladeshi migrants from Tripoli, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The initiative is part of the embassy's continued efforts to support nationals stranded in Libya. A farewell ceremony was held at the embassy premises, attended by Mr Kazi Asif Ahmed, Chargé d'Affaires and Minister (Political), along with First Secretary (Labour) and other officials. The officials briefed the migrants on the embassy's procedures to ensure their safe return. The repatriation was carried out via a special Burak Air flight (Flight No: UZ222) chartered by the IOM. The flight departed from Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport at 6:25 PM on 18 June 2025 and is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at approximately 9:30 AM on 19 June 2025. Among the repatriated migrants, 23 were reported to be in poor health. Most had been staying irregularly in Tripoli and surrounding cities without valid documentation or visas. Securing exit permits for the migrants posed a significant challenge, as many lacked passports or legal residency. However, under the leadership of the Honourable Ambassador, embassy officials held several meetings with Libya's Ministry of Interior and Immigration Department to obtain necessary approvals. The embassy extended its best wishes to the returnees for a safe journey and full recovery. Officials reaffirmed their commitment to assisting Bangladeshi nationals in Libya and continuing cooperation with Libyan authorities and international partners. Tags: BangladeshImmigrationIOMlibyamigrants
Libya Review
2 days ago
- General
- Libya Review
IOM: 950 Sudanese Flee to Libya After Clashes Near Border Triangle
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that approximately 950 Sudanese nationals have crossed into Libya following recent clashes near the strategic border triangle shared by Sudan, Libya, and Egypt. According to an official IOM statement, the displacement occurred after heavy fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the triangle region. The RSF claimed control of the area last week, sparking a new wave of civilian flight from the violence. IOM field teams reported that a further 4,278 people were displaced within Sudan itself, primarily to the Northern State, between 15 and 17 June. The border triangle has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. It holds strategic value due to its location and accessibility to neighbouring countries. The RSF's control over the area has raised concerns about regional spillover and increased migration pressure on Libya and Egypt. Libya, already home to over 313,000 Sudanese refugees since the conflict erupted in April 2023, continues to face growing humanitarian needs. Many of the newly arrived Sudanese enter Libya through the southern region of Kufra. The Libyan Relief and Humanitarian Aid Authority previously stated it is supporting over 7,000 Sudanese families in the eastern region alone. However, international agencies have warned that resources are overstretched. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently appealed for $13.5 million in emergency funding to sustain food assistance for Sudanese refugees in Libya, warning that aid delivery could soon be halted due to funding gaps. The IOM stressed the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian efforts to assist the displaced and stabilise the affected areas. It also reiterated its call for safe, legal migration pathways and regional cooperation to address the root causes of displacement. Tags: IOMlibyamigrationSudanSudanese Refugees
Roya News
3 days ago
- Roya News
At least 60 migrants dead after two boats sink off Libya's coast
At least 60 migrants, including women and children, have died after two boats sank off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. The first tragedy occurred on June 12 near Al-Shaab port in western Libya. According to survivor testimonies, 21 people went missing and only five survivors were found. Among the missing are six Eritreans (three women and three children), five Pakistanis, four Egyptians, and two Sudanese. A second incident took place the following day, June 13, off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya. "According to the sole survivor, rescued by local fishermen, 39 people were lost at sea. In the days that followed, three bodies were recovered from the shore," the IOM stated. Migrant boat sinkings are frequent off Libya's coast, where human traffickers often pack people into unseaworthy vessels beyond their capacity, subjecting them to inhumane conditions. Osman Belbeisi, the IOM's regional director, renewed the organization's call for the international community to step up search and rescue efforts and ensure the safe disembarkation of survivors. According to IOM data, at least 743 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2025. Of those, 538 died along the Central Mediterranean route, which remains the deadliest migration path in the world due to increasingly dangerous smuggling practices, limited rescue capabilities, and tighter restrictions on humanitarian operations. Departures from Libya to Italy have risen this year, surpassing those from neighboring Tunisia, which received €255 million in European aid in 2023 to step up efforts against irregular migration. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), as of June 15, arrivals on Italy's coast had increased by 15% year-on-year, with 26,781 migrants reaching Italy — 24,560 of them from Libya alone, compared to 1,505 from Tunisia.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
At least 60 feared dead in twin migrant shipwrecks off Libya
Listen to article At least 60 migrants are feared dead after a pair of shipwrecks off the coast of Libya over the past week, according to the International Organization for Migration. The first ship went down on June 12 near a Libyan port in Tripoli, with 21 people, including women and children, reported missing and only five survivors found, the IOM said in a statement Tuesday. Those lost at sea included Eritrean, Pakistani, Egyptian and Sudanese nationals. The second wreck took place about 35 kilometres (20 miles) off the port city of Tobruk, with the sole survivor reporting 39 people lost at sea, according to the UN body. Read More: UN says 427 Rohingya feared dead in May shipwrecks "With dozens feared dead and entire families left in anguish, IOM is once again urging the international community to scale up search and rescue operations and guarantee safe, predictable disembarkation for survivors," said Othman Belbeisi, the IOM's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. According to the statement, at least 743 people have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The deadly route, it said, is "marked by increasingly dangerous smuggling practices, limited rescue capacity and growing restrictions on humanitarian operations". As of June 15, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, migrant landings on the Italian coast were up 15 percent year on year, with most originating in Libya.
