The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Malta assisted 31 migrants to return to their home countries over the past year in the fifth phase of its Restart programme.

The Restart programme - full name: Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) project - originally started in 2009 and a total of 235 returnees were assisted under the first four phases.

The programme is being held in cooperation with the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security.

IOM said that those who were assisted to return over the past year included two persons with medical conditions and an unaccompanied child migrant.

Although Egypt was the country with the highest number of returnees, an absolute majority of project beneficiaries were nationals of sub-Saharan African countries, primarily Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Mali. However, nationals of geographically distant countries, such as Bangladesh, were also given voluntary return and reintegration assistance.

IOM said its voluntary return programme offers a safe and dignified return to the country of origin for unsuccessful asylum seekers and other migrants who wish to return home but lack the means to do so.

“The provision of reintegration assistance to migrants in their countries of origin is essential. Reintegration assistance is always tailored to individual needs and is aimed at helping returnees engage in income-generating activities or vocational training that would facilitate finding employment. Special assistance is also given for vulnerable persons,” said Federico Soda, Director, IOM Coordinating Office for the Mediterranean and Chief of Mission for Italy and Malta.

“IOM and partners in countries of origin provide migrants with socio-economic support to promote their self-sufficiency and contributions to their local communities in order to effectively contribute to addressing the root causes of irregular migration. The sustainability of returns may, however, ultimately only be ensured in tandem with socio-economic development in the countries of origin,” he added.

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