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266 migrants in Malta voluntarily repatriated since 2009

Xinhua, June 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

A total of 266 migrants in Maltese Islands have been repatriated to their home countries over the past 5 years, under a restart programme conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Malta.

In cooperation with the the archipelago's Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security, the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) project helped 31 migrants return to their home lands in its fifth phase last year.

IOM said that those who were assisted to return over the past year included two persons with medical conditions and an unaccompanied child migrant.

Egypt was the country with the highest number of returnees, but nationals of sub-Saharan African countries, primarily Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Mali, were also an absolute majority of project beneficiaries.

IOM said its voluntary return programme offers a safe and dignified return to the country of origin for unsuccessful asylum seekers and other migrants who wish to return home but lack the means to do so.

"IOM and partners in countries of origin provide migrants with socio-economic support to promote their self-sufficiency and contributions to their local communities in order to effectively contribute to addressing the root causes of irregular migration. The sustainability of returns may, however, ultimately only be ensured in tandem with socio-economic development in the countries of origin," said Federico Soda, Director, IOM Coordinating Office for the Mediterranean and Chief of Mission for Italy and Malta. Endit