- The International Organistion of Migration (IOM) has launched an urgent appeal to secure three million Euros to assist 2,000 stranded illegal migrants in Libya next year.
Many of the tens of thousands stranded illegal migrants who have been stranded in Libya have no means to return home.
Since 2006, the IOM has assisted 1,300 stranded migrants to return home voluntary with reintegration assistance, including a 300 Euro support start-up grant for income generating activities to help them re-start their lives.
The migration body said in the coming weeks, another 200 migrants will be helped through the European Commission and Italian government funded IOM programme.
However, the IOM said going by the dramatic increase in the number of requests for help being made by the stranded migrants in Libya, the body will be forced to suspend its programme unless additional fund is found.
Libya, a major transit point for large numbers of migrants attempting to sail through Europe, is currently hosting
many tens of thousands of irregular migrants from West, East Africa and Asia.
"Although Libyan authorities have put in place various strategies for managing migration flows to and through its borders such as increased border patrolling; training its migration officials; requiring labour migrants from some nationalities to have a contract before being admitted and adopting a regularization scheme for undocumented entrants, irregular migration flows remain significant," the IOM said in a statement.
It said the effectiveness of forced returns of irregular migrants is also proving to be weak, as many migrants make a second attempt to reach the country mainly because of the humiliation of returning home empty-handed, in debt and often in a worse economic situation than before they left.
IOM's assisted voluntary return and reintegration programme not only offers an alternative to dangerous attempts to cross the sea to Europe, but also provides those who choose to return to their country with an opportunity to build a life back at home again.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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