140 Stranded Nigerians in Sudan Repatriated with IOM Support
Tada Juthan, Maiduguri
A total of 140 stranded Nigerians in Sudan have safely returned home with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) initiative.
According to IOM Sudan’s Chief of Mission, Mohamed Refaat, many Nigerian migrants found themselves stranded as Sudan’s humanitarian crisis worsened due to ongoing conflict. For many, the VHR program became their safest route back home.
The returnees included 64 women, 36 children, and four infants under 12 months old, along with individuals with health conditions. Upon arrival, they received post-arrival assistance, including mental health support and transportation to their final destinations within Nigeria.
Refaat emphasized that IOM and its partners are committed to ensuring the reintegration of the returnees, providing additional support tailored to their individual needs. The repatriation was coordinated with the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, the Sudanese Ministry of Interior, and agencies such as the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Since the outbreak of conflict in 2023, over 12 million people have been displaced, including migrants who had previously settled in Sudan as workers, students, or professionals.
One of the returnees, Bashir, recounted the ordeal of surviving without shelter or food, saying, “After the war, we were left out in the open with no hope.” However, he expressed gratitude for finally making it back home.
