TRIPOLI, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday said 147 illegal migrants were recently voluntarily deported from Libya to their home country, Nigeria.
"On Feb. 13, 147 migrants, including two unaccompanied and separated children, were able to return home safely from Benghazi, Libya to Lagos, Nigeria, with the support of IOM Libya's Voluntary Humanitarian Return Assistance Program (VHR)," said IOM in a statement.
"VHR continues to be a humanitarian lifeline for migrants wishing to return home from precarious situations," the statement added.
Established in 2006, the VHR has been running to help stranded migrants in Libya to their countries of origin.
According to IOM, 9,370 migrants from 26 countries in Africa and Asia returned to their countries of origin in 2023 through the program, including 1,051 children.
Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.
According to IOM, more than 1,000 illegal immigrants have been rescued at sea and returned to Libya so far in 2024. ■