International Organization for Migration (IOM) cleared the way for the safe return of 160 Bangladeshi migrants stranded in Libya under its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program on Wednesday.
The flight carrying the returnees left Benghazi of Libya on Tuesday and landed at Dhaka’s Hazarat Shajalal International Airport (HSIA) on Wednesday.
The returnees including 159 men and 1 woman were stranded in Libya due to pandemic and protracted political instability.
IOM assisted with the safe return of these migrants in coordination with the Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya.
The body of one Bangladeshi who died in Libya was also sent in the same flight.
Prior to departure, the returnees underwent health check-ups, along with pre-departure transportation assistance, counselling services and also were screened for underlying protection vulnerabilities by IOM.
All passengers were also provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and a COVID-19 test (PCR) prior to their departure.
Officials and IOM Bangladesh staff received the migrants at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and provided each with cash assistance for transportation from IOM to get home.
Besides, IOM assured to grant each a reintegration grant from.
