Stranded African migrants from Libya - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday it had managed to move hundreds of women, children and men of Chadian and Nigerian origin from Libya into safety, while thousands are yet to be evacuated. IOM said in a statement that a convoy of 13 trucks carrying more than 840 African migrants had crossed into Chad after travelling from the southern Libyan town of Sebha.

'The migrants, the vast majority Chadians but also including some Nigerians, have reached the remote Chadian border town of Zouarké, where IOM staff have met them with fresh supplies and assistance,' said the statement, obtained by PANA here.

It explained that the group, which consists of men, women and children, was 'part of a large number of African migrants in need of evacuation assistance from Sebha'.

It said many of them are at the IOM centre in Sebha receiving food, water and shelter assistance on a daily basis.

The migrants at Zouarké are now being escorted by IOM across the Chadian desert to Faya Largeau, a land journey that will take another few days.

Staff at the IOM centre in the town will provide the migrants with food, water, medical assistance and a place to rest upon arrival.

'The migrants will eventually be taken to the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, from where all the migrants will be assisted to reach their homes in Chad or Nigeria,' It said.

This second land evacuation from Sebha, funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection office (ECHO) and Germany, follows a previous evacuation in October when more than 1,220 Africans representing 12 different nationalities were assisted.

The statement said IOM has stepped up air evacuations of African migrants from Tripoli, heading towards various final destinations in Africa.

'Nearly 1,030 Nigeriens, Malians and Nigerians have been taken home by IOM on chartered flights from Tripoli since the beginning of November,' the statement said.

It said despite the end of hostilities in Libya, which has seen more than 764,000 migrants flee the country, more than 200,000 of them Africans, groups of migrants still want to leave Libya and require assistance.

IOM said to date and using land, sea and air transport, IOM and partners had assisted more than 216,000 migrants fleeing the Libyan crisis to return to their home countries.

Pana 25/11/2011