IOM Supports Sierra Leonean Migrants Stranded by Conflict in Lebanon to Return Home

Beirut – IOM continues to support the evacuation of migrants stranded by the conflict in Lebanon, assisting 169 Sierra Leonean migrants to return home on 19 November.  

The return was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Lebanon and local authorities. The migrants departed from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on a charter flight bound for Freetown, Sierra Leone, where they were welcomed by the IOM country team. 

Their journey home was funded through the COMPASS programme, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.  

“I lost hope in the shelter, but now I can’t express how happy I am. Truly, there is no place like home,” said Kadiatu, one of the returning migrants. 

In addition to the group of migrants from Sierra Leone, IOM has also arranged the return of 40 migrants to Kenya, six to Bangladesh, and two to go to Togo via commercial flights this week. 

Before the conflict, more than 180,000 migrants lived in Lebanon. IOM estimates that 25,000 migrants have been displaced by the crisis. Like all displaced persons in Lebanon, they urgently need humanitarian support, including safe shelter, mattresses, blankets, food, and basic services, including healthcare. IOM continues to provide an inclusive humanitarian response for all displaced and conflict-affected persons. 

“IOM is committed to ensuring that migrants are not left behind in times of crisis. IOM is proud to support these migrants during their most difficult moments, helping them return home safely and with dignity. Our work doesn’t end here—we will continue to collaborate with our partners to assist more vulnerable migrants in Lebanon and help them find a path to safety.”,” said Mathieu Luciano, IOM Lebanon’s Head of Office. 

Even before the conflict, many migrants, particularly female migrant domestic workers, were in vulnerable situations due to exploitative practices and lack of legal protection. As hostilities escalated, some were abandoned by their employers or locked inside their employers’ homes.  

IOM continues to receive urgent requests for assistance, particularly for evacuation. IOM is working with partners and embassies to secure the necessary support and funding to meet this growing demand. 

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For more information, please contact:    

In Lebanon: Joelle Mhanna, jmhanna@iom.int 
In Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int 
In Geneva: Kennedy Okoth, kokoth@iom.int 

For more information on the COMPASS programme: www.iom.int/COMPASS