UN agency to repatriate 180 Sierra Leoneans from Libya

16 Novembre 2017

Freetown, Sierra Leone, November 16  (Infosplusgabon) -  The International Organization for Migration (IOM)  has agreed to facilitate the repatriation of 180 Sierra Leoneans stranded in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here announced on Wednesday.

“The first batch of 180 deportees have been traced and certified as Sierra Leoneans by the [Sierra Leone] Embassy and IOM staff,” said Mohamed Hashim, Head of Chancery for North Africa.

Hashim told that most of the deportees were traced from prison. Every year, hundreds of Sierra Leoneans attempt to travel to Europe through Libya to seek greener pastures. Some of them are caught by Libyan authorities while others drown at sea.

Hashim added  that Interpol would  screen those who will be sent back to Sierra Leone.

A chartered flight carrying the first batch of returnees is scheduled to land in Sierra Leone on 21 November.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/AAR/ GABON 2017

© Copyright Infosplusgabon