Dakar, Senegal – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is appealing for EUR 100 million to continue providing urgent protection and critical assistance to vulnerable migrants from West and Central Africa along the Central and Western Mediterranean routes, as funding under the EU Trust Fund (EUTF) comes to an end. “Many migrants do not have the financial, logistical and administrative means to return home when they want to end their journey,” says Christopher Gascon, IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa. Current funding for these critical humanitarian interventions is coming to an end, and IOM will have to start phasing out assistance to vulnerable migrants after December 2020 in West and Central Africa. Additional resources are urgently needed to allow for the continuity of support to migrants with protection and direct assistance. The appeal will enable direct assistance and return for more than 12,500 migrants and reintegration support for at least 24,000 returned from West and Central Africa, North Africa and Europe.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 14, 2020 11:26 UTC