IOM Evacuates First Group of Migrants from Tripoli – IOM staff have begun boarding migrants wanting to leave the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on its chartered boat heading for Benghazi.
GENEVA, Switzerland, August 25, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The IOM chartered boat, which had remained anchored off the Tripoli coast since Tuesday evening, was finally able to dock late Thursday morning after security conditions in and around the port area had sufficiently improved.
The migrants had been brought to the port area from various locations around the city through arrangements with relevant embassies and other parties.
Among an approximately 200 foreigners being evacuated are Egyptians, Filipinos, Canadians, Algerians, Moroccans and an Italian.
The IOM chartered boat with IOM medical staff on board, will leave for Benghazi later Thursday. Upon arrival, the evacuees will be taken to a transit centre where facilities for their accommodation have been strengthened. The migrants will then be transported by IOM to the Egyptian border at Salloum from where the Organization will assist them to return to their home countries.
“It has not been easy to do this operation. We never expected it to be. Nevertheless, there is a huge sense of relief that all our efforts are in the end helping these migrants,” says Pasquale Lupoli, IOM Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“However, IOM reiterates its call to all parties to allow migrants safe passage to the port. This issue remains a major challenge in any further evacuations of migrants from Tripoli,” adds Lupoli.
Fear of fighting, looting, sniper fire and checkpoints prevents migrants from leaving their homes to reach the port area, the only place from which they would be able to flee the country.
A second IOM chartered boat with a much larger capacity is due to carry out another evacuation over the weekend.
Although there are no clear figures on the overall number of migrants still in Tripoli and how many in total who still want to be evacuated, several thousands had registered for assistance.
Many more, including Sub-Saharan Africans who live on the outskirts of Tripoli might also require assistance.
SOURCE
International Office of Migration (IOM)
