Iraqi Government Refuses Funding to Repatriate 35 Stranded Kurdish Migrants in Libya
At a Glance
- Thirty-five young Kurdish residents from Slemani Governorate are stranded in Libya without government financial assistance for return flights.
- The Iraqi government has declined to allocate funds for purchasing airline tickets to repatriate the stranded citizens.
- Returned refugees' representatives are urging the Iraqi Parliament to form a specialized committee to track missing migrants.
- Global migration statistics indicate that 1,370 migrants have drowned or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of 2024.
In a statement, representatives of returned refugees highlighted that dozens of Kurdish migrants remain stranded in Libya under precarious conditions, facing administrative and financial hurdles imposed by federal authorities regarding their repatriation.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Repatriation Deadlock: Stranded citizens express a strong desire to return to the Kurdistan Region, but lack of federal budgetary allocation for plane tickets leaves them stranded abroad.
- Legal Obligations: Returnee representative Pishraw Abdullah stressed that Iraq is bound by the Global Compact for Migration to assist its citizens abroad, regardless of their circumstances.
- Missing Persons: Authorities are urged to investigate the disappearance of individuals who lost contact in March 2024, with fears mounting that many perished during maritime incidents in the Mediterranean.
The crisis underscores the severe dangers associated with irregular migration routes through North Africa. Humanitarian organizations estimate that approximately 70 Kurdish migrants currently reside in Libya attempting dangerous sea crossings, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic intervention and financial support.
FYI
The Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy remains one of the world's most perilous migration corridors, characterized by unseaworthy vessels, severe weather risks, and high rates of maritime fatalities documented by international monitoring agencies.
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