11 Kurdistan Region Migrants Return From Libya To Erbil
At a Glance
- Eleven young people from the Kurdistan Region have returned from Libya to Erbil and reunited with their families, according to the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC).
- The returnees travelled from Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli to Erbil.
- Iraq’s embassy in Libya says it has facilitated the return of 404 undocumented migrants over the past two years.
- Iraqi diplomatic officials warn young people and their families about smuggling and human-trafficking networks and the dangers of irregular migration.
Eleven young people from the Kurdistan Region have returned from Libya and reunited with their families, the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC), a lead institution under the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Interior, announced.
Ahmed al-Sahaf, an official at Iraq’s embassy in Libya, told Channel 8 that the group departed from Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli and returned to Erbil.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Ahmed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Embassy Official in Libya: He said 404 undocumented migrants had been returned to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region over the past two years.
- Consular Assistance: The Iraqi embassy in Libya provides humanitarian support and medical services to migrants who arrive in the country, according to al-Sahaf.
- Institutional Coordination: The embassy coordinates with the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations and Ministry of Interior to support migrant-return efforts.
- Warning to Young People: Al-Sahaf cautioned young people and their families against involvement with smuggling and human-trafficking networks, citing the risks of drowning and disappearance along migration routes.
The JCC said the 11 returnees arrived in Erbil after travelling from Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya. They subsequently reunited with their families.
Speaking to Channel 8, Ahmed al-Sahaf, an official at Iraq’s embassy in Libya, said diplomatic efforts had facilitated the return of 404 undocumented migrants to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region over the past two years.
Al-Sahaf added that the embassy provides humanitarian assistance and medical services to migrants who arrive in Libya. He also said the embassy maintains coordination with the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations and Ministry of Interior to support efforts to return migrants.
Warning Over Irregular Migration
Al-Sahaf warned young people and their families against engaging with smuggling and human-trafficking networks. He said migration routes from Libya expose people to serious dangers, including drowning and going missing.
He also praised Libyan security forces for cooperating in efforts to facilitate migrants’ voluntary return.
FYI
The return of the 11 young people highlights the consular and humanitarian challenges associated with irregular migration through Libya, which serves as a transit country for people seeking routes toward Europe. Migrants may face exploitation by trafficking networks, detention and dangerous journeys, including potentially fatal sea crossings.
The reported return of 404 migrants over two years illustrates the scale of repatriation efforts described by Iraqi diplomatic officials. However, the figure does not establish how many Iraqis or people from the Kurdistan Region remain in Libya. Continued coordination among Iraqi and Kurdistan Region institutions and Libyan authorities remains important for identifying migrants, providing assistance and facilitating safe returns.
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