Somali Migrants Restart after Libya
Each year, countless African migrants embark on perilous journeys to escape violence, insecurity, climate disasters, and poverty.
During transit, many fall victim to smugglers and traffickers who detain them against their will, extort their families, and subject them to torture. By the end of 2022, at least 600,000 migrants remained stranded in Libya, while another 43,000 endured extreme hardship in Yemen. Trapped in limbo, many long to return home but lack the means and protection to do so independently.
Since 2017, IOM has facilitated the return of 800 Somali migrants through European Union funding. Once back in their communities, repatriated migrants are provided with financial assistance, therapy, and professional training to rebuild their lives with dignity.
This photo essay highlights the stories of Somali migrants who were returned from Libya between 2021 and 2022.
A collaboration between Claudia Rosel and Yonas Tadesse.
Published in El País (April 21, 2023)
Los somalíes que regresaron a casa: “No planeo otro viaje a Europa, no quiero sufrir hambre y torturas”
Muna Beauty Make-Up Course for Somali Women in Hargeisa
Through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative, IOM partnered with Muna Jama, a Somali make-up artist and businesswoman, to provide education scholarships for women returnees and vulnerable women residing in Hargeisa, Somaliland.