A group of 140 Nigerians, who had been stranded in Sudan for months due to the ongoing conflict, have safely returned to their home country with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program.
IOM confirmed the return in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the first chartered flight since the onset of the Sudanese crisis arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on February 27.
The Nigerian government officially welcomed the returnees upon their arrival.
Among those returning were 64 women, 36 children, and four infants under the age of 12 months, as well as migrants facing health challenges.
Upon arrival, the returnees were provided with post-arrival assistance, which included counseling, medical care, and mental health and psychosocial support where necessary.
They also received help with transportation to their final destinations. IOM, along with its partners, will offer reintegration assistance based on the individual needs of the returnees.
Bashir, one of the returnees, shared his experience, saying, “After the war, we found ourselves out in the open with no accommodation and no food.
Things kept getting tougher, and the problem was that there was no hope because the war kept going on. We are grateful to be back home.”
The IOM also highlighted the extensive displacement caused by the war in Sudan, which began in 2023.
More than 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, either relocating within Sudan or seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
This includes many migrants, such as third-country nationals who were working, studying, or living in Sudan.
“In this ongoing crisis, IOM has been working closely with embassies and consular offices to provide protection, assistance, and access to services for stranded migrants,” the organization stated.
IOM’s Sudan Chief of Mission, Mohamed Refaat, explained, “Migrants who have transited through or are living in Sudan since the conflict began have found themselves stranded as the humanitarian situation deteriorates.
Many have lost everything—documents, homes, and belongings.
For many, Voluntary Humanitarian Return remains the best option for a safe journey home.”
The VHR program has proven to be a critical lifeline for those unable to return home due to the ongoing conflict, offering a safe and structured pathway for their repatriation.
The flight was coordinated in collaboration with several authorities in both Sudan and Nigeria, including the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, Sudan’s Ministry of Interior, Nigeria’s National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and local stakeholders in Kano.
“We are happy to see the positive results of partnerships and cooperation in saving lives,” said Ms. Paola Pace, Chief of Mission a.i. for IOM Nigeria.
“IOM remains committed and will continue to work tirelessly to extend support to all migrants and ensure no one is left behind,” the statement continued.
The chartered flight was made possible with the support of the European Union through the Migrant Protection, Return, and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa.
