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Tuesday, 23 August, 2011, 7:6 ( 5:6 GMT )
Editorial/OP-ED




IOM Evacuates Chadian Migrants from Libya
08/07/2011 17:00:00
The International Organisation for Migration since the Libyan war broke out was called into action to airlift from government-controlled southern Libya about 370 African migrants, mainly Chadian, and fly them to the Chad capital N'djamena.

The airlift, consisting of three flights chartered by the IOM since Wednesday, evacuated the migrants from the Libyan town of Sebha the agency said Friday.

Due to large demonstrations that were expected Friday in the area, no flights were scheduled, but IOM pokesperson Jumbe Omari Jumbe told a news briefing airlifts were due to resume this weekend,. Migrants stranded during the conflict have previously been evacuated by ship and bus.

Up to 2 000 Chadian and other African migrants are still marooned in Sebha and Gatroun , a town further to the south, and have spent weeks living in the open with limited access to food, water and health services, the IOM said.

"Leaving Libya is a matter of last resort and the uncertainty of what awaits them in Chad after decades away is causing fear and worry among them," Qasim Sufi, who is leading the evacuation, said in a statement.

Most of the migrants had been working for many years in southern Libya. The IOM has given migrants small cash payments to help cover their initial costs, it said, adding that sporadic fighting, banditry and a lack of local of transport have prevented the migrants from leaving.

Handicap International and Unicef also warned on Friday that Libyan children risked being harmed by playing with the growing number of mines and explosive remnants of war scattered in heavily populated areas.

Unicef spokesperson Marixie Mercado is reportd saying in Geneva: "Our sense is the contamination in Misurata, Ajdabiyah, Nafusa mountains and some areas outside of Benghazi but less now, poses significant risk to children,".
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