No fewer than 140 stranded Nigerians in Sudan have returned home with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). According to IOM, the safe return of Nigerian refugees is part of its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR). The IOM Sudan Chief of Mission, Mohamed Refaat, in a statement, on Friday, said: “Migrants who have transited through or are living in Sudan since the conflict began have found themselves stranded, as the humanitarian situation deteriorates in the country.”

He noted that for many of the refugees, VHR remains the best option for a safe journey home. The returned refugees comprise 64 women, 36 children, and four infants under 12 months old, as well as migrants with health conditions.

Refaat further disclosed that following their return, each of the migrants received post arrival assistance, including mental health and psychosocial support, as well as assistance for onward transportation to their final destinations in Nigeria.

The IOM Chief also said: “The organisation and partners will also ensure the refugees’ reintegration through additional support based on individual needs.” On how the refugees were returned, he said the VHR charter flights were closely coordinated by authorities in Sudan and Nigeria, including the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, and the Sudanese Ministry of Interior.

Others that participated in the repatriation of the stranded Nigerians included the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in Nigeria, Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) and other local actors in Kano, Nigeria.