After months of uncertainty, 140 Nigerians stranded in war-torn Sudan have safely returned home through the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The returnees arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on February 27, marking the first such chartered flight since the conflict in Sudan escalated. Among them were 64 women, 36 children, and four infants, as well as individuals with health conditions.
According to IOM, the migrants received post-arrival assistance, including medical care, psychological support, and transportation to their final destinations in Nigeria. The organization and its partners will also facilitate their reintegration based on their specific needs.
One of the returnees, Bashir, described the dire conditions they faced:"After the war, we found ourselves out in the open with no accommodation and no food. Things kept getting tougher, and the problem was that there was no hope because the war kept going on. We are grateful to be back home."
Since the war in Sudan broke out in 2023, over 12 million people have been displaced, including many migrant workers, students, and professionals who had built lives in the country. The VHR program provides a safe return for those stranded and unable to leave on their own.
The flight was organized in collaboration with authorities in Sudan and Nigeria, including the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, the Sudanese Ministry of Interior, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Ms. Paola Pace, Chief of Mission a.i. for IOM Nigeria, emphasized the importance of international partnerships in such efforts."We are happy to see the positive results of partnerships and cooperation in saving lives. IOM remains committed to supporting all migrants and ensuring no one is left behind."
The return was made possible with funding from the European Union under the Migrant Protection, Return, and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa.
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