The EUTF's aim is for people to migrate out of aspiration, in a safe way. It provides protection and assistance to vulnerable migrants along key migration routes, such as search and rescue missions or training border management personnel in first aid. Thanks to the EUTF, in the last 5 years over 85,000 vulnerable migrants have been supported with their voluntary return to their country of origin and more than 100,000 migrants were assisted after their return under one of the EUTF’s flagship project, the EU-IOM Joint Initiative. EUTF for Africa programs include protection and assistance to victims of trafficking and smuggling and reintegration services to support migrants who decide to restart their lives in their countries of origin. In this regard, it aims to stem trafficking and smuggling of human beings, by supporting the relevant governments in their judicial and prosecution efforts, and promoting a regional approach to these cross-border criminal activities. Migration management actions also include support to border management, fighting against networks of smugglers and traffickers, implementing awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of irregular migration.
Data provided as available at December 2020.
Every day, many people travel from Ethiopia to Djibouti, the start of a dangerous journey, looking for a better life. The IOM’s Migrant Response Centre at Obock supports the many that decided to turn back. It provides food, medical care and shelter for up to 250 people at a time.
@IOM Djibouti
Many are the drivers of human mobility in the Sahel and the factors that influence the decisions of people to migrate. The EUTF programmes protect and assist vulnerable migrants through their journey in a structured manner and respectful for human rights, opening up new roads for opportunities in the Sahel countries.
@OXFAM
The EU is supporting Morocco in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings and several equipment deliveries were made to strengthen the border management capacities of the Moroccan authorities.
@ICMPD
“There are many here who want to leave. I always make sure to share my story. Reality is far from expectation”
Kedir was 18 when he left Ethiopia to try his luck in the Gulf countries. The memories of the journey still haunt him. With the help of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative, he started a new chapter. He now owns cattle and a mango nursery, and looks to the future with positive expectations.
@IOM Ethiopia
A truck packed with migrants heading to Libya crosses Agadez on its way to Tourayat, a Nigerian village. The town of Agadez in the Sahara is a hub for West African migrants travelling to Libya, Algeria and Europe. The trip on this type of truck from Tourayat to Libya can take more than two days. Over 28,000 migrants have been assisted in Search and Rescue operations since the launch of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative in 2017.
©IOM
The EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration has supported over 36,000 voluntary returns so far across the North of Africa region to countries of origin, to protect the most vulnerable migrants stranded in dire humanitarian situations.
@IOM
The EU-IOM Joint Initiative has supported over 4,300 voluntary returns and assisted more than 11,700 returning migrants across the Horn of Africa, including through immediate assistance on arrival, psychosocial support, skills training, education or medical help.
©IOM
Having left The Gambia without his parents’ knowledge, Ousman was assisted with return and reintegration through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative.
©IOM
Many people travel to Libya, the start of a dangerous journey, looking for a better life. The EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration supports the many that decide to voluntarily return home. Within the African Union – European Union – United Nations Taskforce, over 50,000 migrants benefitted from the voluntary return assistance from Libya to go back to their countries of origin. They received food, medical care and shelter, including immediate assistance on arrival, psychosocial support, skills training, education or medical help and reintegration assistance.
©IOM
In 10 countries of Sahel and Lake Chad region, Erasmus+ promotes legal migration by supporting university student exchanges, reinforcing skills and personal development of candidates from West Africa, in order to facilitate their integration into the job market and to stimulate entrepreneurship and job opportunities in partner countries.
©GIZ
In 2018, Mohammed travelled from Bangladesh to Libya where he stayed for a year. Due to the challenging security situation in Libya, Mohammad felt unsafe and decided to return to Bangladesh. He received Voluntary Humanitarian Return assistance through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative. In Bangladesh, Mohammed was provided with reintegration support to start a sewing business. He is now also employing another person.
@IOM
“Although it is difficult to accept the fact that I failed to achieve my dream after my return to Morocco, IOM's reintegration assistance enabled me to have a source of income once again and to help my family. Thankfully, my mother has recovered, and she is now doing well.”
Zakaria is one of the Moroccan returnees who have been supported towards a sustainable reintegration under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative. Upon his arrival in Morocco, Zakaria was supported to set up a sheep farming business in the rural area of Beni Mellal where breeding is common.
©IOM
Farhiya and her son were assisted with primary medical care and non-food items at the IOM’s Migrant Response Centre in Bosaso (Somalia), ahead of their voluntary return to Ethiopia. The centre is supported by the Better Migration management programme. The BMM programme helps identify, assist, and protect victims of human trafficking and vulnerable smuggled migrants, especially women and children and other vulnerable groups. So far, over 18,200 trafficked victims and vulnerable migrants have been assisted with protection services, such as accommodation, basic services, and counselling. Over 9,000 of these were provided with accommodation, medical screening, basic services and counselling. Thanks to the BMM’s mobile health units, more than 6,700 migrants were supported.
@IOM