The International Organization for Migration (IOM) last week facilitated the "safe and dignified voluntary return" of 392 stranded migrants from Tunisia to countries of origin including Burkina Faso (163 people), Gambia (165 people), Guinea (seven people), Liberia (one person), Mali (33 people) and Senegal (23 people), according to a statement published by the organization on January 19.

IOM said that it provides assistance to migrants wishing to return, including pre-departure and post-arrival services through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programmes (AVRR). This assistance is extended in collaboration with the Tunisian cabinet, working alongside representative authorities in the governorates of Medenine, Sfax, and Tataouine, as well as strategic partners such as the Tunisian Red Crescent. The coordination of efforts extends to IOM offices in the migrants' countries of origin and regional offices, as outlined in the statement.

The organization added that, upon return, all 392 migrants will receive "tailored reintegration services" to help them rebuild their lives and settle back into their communities.

The story of Awa

"I left my husband and my 11-year-old son in Gambia when I was three months pregnant," Awa, 30, was quoted as saying by IOM in the statement.

"Back home, I hope to do something meaningful and be able to support my family and rebuild myself. IOM will help me in reopening and refurbishing my small shop that sells and buys products for women (clothes, perfumes and shoes)," she explained, before her departure.

IOM highlighted that returning to one's country of origin often presents a significant challenge to migrants, as they may face difficulties and in rebuilding their social and economic networks and reintegrating into their communities of origin.

During the entire process of return and reintegration, IOM offers different types of support at different levels (economic, social and psychosocial), addressing the multidimensional nature of the reintegration process, the statement noted.

"Once in Mali, returnees are provided with comprehensive sustainable reintegration assistance," Olivier Grosjean, the head of IOM's interim mission in Mali, was quoted as saying in the statement.

"This includes economic support, such as vocational training and small business development, to help returnees establish a stable livelihood. Additionally, IOM offers psychosocial support and community-based initiatives aimed at fostering social cohesion and addressing the challenges returnees face in reintegrating into their community," he added.

IOM helped 2,557 migrants return home from Tunisia in 2023

In 2023, IOM said it assisted 2,557 migrants to voluntarily return from Tunisia to their countries of origin, representing a 45% increase from 2022, when 1,614 migrants were assisted with voluntary return and reintegration.

"IOM's Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration has always been a lifeline for migrants who wish to return home but do not have the means to do so," Dawda Njie, IOM Gambia's reintegration assistant, was quoted as saying by the organization.

"This humanitarian assistance has been helping migrants not just return safely, but also improving their social, psychosocial and economic statuses in their communities".

Through an integrated approach supporting migrants and their communities, returning migrants have the potential to complement local development and mitigate some of the drivers of irregular migration, IOM said.

Moussa, who has returned home to Burkina Faso, was given vocational training in welding for six months, welding equipment and support to rent a place: "Today, my work pays me well and it benefits my family. It gives me the opportunity to sometimes help other people," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

These returns were facilitated by the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration in North Africa (MPRR-NA) project, which was launched in January 2023 and is funded by the European Union.

The program's overall aim is to contribute to the strengthening of migrant protection and sustainable reintegration systems in North Africa, while boosting support to stranded migrants as well as reinforcing national return and reintegration systems across the North Africa region, the statement concluded.