Coronavirus - Africa: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Niger - Assisted Voluntary Return for Stranded Malians; Over 1,600 Remain in Transit Centers

The charter was the first movement by air, facilitated thanks to an agreement between the Governmentsof Niger and Mali. Nonetheless, currently another 1,658 migrants from several, mainlyWest African, countries remainin IOM transitcentres, waitingfor travel restrictions to lift so they, too, can return to their countries of origin.

These stranded migrants are receiving immediate assistance at six IOM transitcentresand additional quarantine sites across Niger.At itscentres, IOM provides shelter, food, water, core relief items, psychosocial and medical assistance. Thecentreshave been operating at full capacity since the start of the health crisis, so IOM has also stepped up infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures.

“It has already been three months that I have been staying in this transitcentrein Niamey,” saidMoussa, one of seven unaccompanied migrant children who travelled on Thursday’s charter to Mali. “I can’t wait to finally be back home and see my family.”

The Government of Niger agreed on 21 April to open a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the voluntary return of migrants stranded in Niger. The first two land movements took place in the last two weeks and saw the return of 43 migrants to Burkina Faso and 58 migrants to Benin.

“We are extremely grateful for the collaboration between the two governments and for IOM’s support all along the way,” declared IssaIssiakaCamara, representative for the embassy of Mali in Niger. “We are happy to see today with our own eyes the result of our joint efforts and to be able to put a smile on the migrants’ faces knowing they will soon be reunited with their families.”

Upon arrival,the Malians were received by national authorities and IOM staff whoescorted returnees totheir transitcentres. There they will remain fortwoweeksto complete a mandatory quarantine.

IOM is providing the returnees with food, shelter, core relief items and hygiene kits. At the end of the quarantine period, the migrants will return to their communities of origin to be reunited with theirfamiliesand will beeligible for reintegration assistance.

“Together with the Governments of Mali and Niger, and with the great support of the European Union, IOM’s teams in the two countries have worked closely together to make this monumental movement happen. Despite mobility restrictions, we know that migrants have been desperatetogetback home,” said Pascal Reyntjens, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Mali. “We are hoping that this is the first of many more returns to take place in the next few weeks.”

Migrants are assisted at IOM’s transitcentresand temporary humanitarian sites in NigerunderIOM’s Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration supported by the European Union.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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