YAOUNDE, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A group of 150 Chadian migrants, mostly women and children, have been voluntarily repatriated from Libya to their home country, the Chadian foreign ministry said Thursday.
The migrants arrived in the country earlier Thursday thanks to the efforts of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the ministry said in a statement.
The returnees had been stranded in Libya for several months.
"This return constitutes a new start for these Chadian nationals," the statement said. "The government ... is committed to supporting their socio-professional reintegration, thus offering them a chance to rebuild their lives in Chad."
"This strong gesture illustrates the government's desire to respond to the needs of its citizens, affirming that every Chadian deserves to be supported and protected, no matter where they are," the statement added.
According to the IOM, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores. ■
