KRG Arranges Return of Three Migrants as 11 Remain Unaccounted For
The Kurdistan Regional Government is facilitating the return of three migrants from Libya, while 11 others remain missing.
Key points
- The KRG is repatriating three migrants from Libya, with costs covered by the Prime Minister's office.
- Eleven other individuals from the Raparin Administration remain missing after traveling to Libya two months ago.
- More than 335 Kurdish migrants have been repatriated from Libya in recent years, according to regional officials.
The Kurdistan Regional Government is preparing to repatriate three migrants from Libya, according to a statement released on Monday. An official from the Department of Foreign Relations confirmed that the individuals are scheduled to fly from Istanbul to Erbil this week, with the costs of their return covered by the Office of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. This move follows a broader effort to locate and return citizens who have gone missing in North Africa.
The three individuals are expected to land at Erbil International Airport on Thursday night, where they will be received by their families. While the government has secured the return of these specific migrants, significant work remains to locate 11 other young men from the Raparin Administration who traveled to Libya approximately two months ago. Salim Pasha, a senior advisor at the DFR, emphasized that the government is committed to doing whatever is necessary to find them and bring them home.
Recent repatriation efforts expand
This latest arrangement is part of a larger diplomatic push to assist Kurdish migrants in distress. Earlier this month, 33 individuals were successfully returned to the region through coordination between the DFR and the Iraqi Embassy in Tripoli. In total, more than 335 Kurdish migrants have been repatriated from Libya in recent years, highlighting the scale of the crisis affecting the community.
Perilous routes to Europe
Many migrants attempt to reach Europe via Libya, often relying on unsafe boats that pose a high risk of capsizing in the Mediterranean. The Iraqi government has frequently warned against the dangers of this illegal migration route, noting that Libya has become a major transit hub. Beyond the Kurdish community, over 50 other Iraqi migrants have been returned to the country in recent years.
Regional migration statistics indicate scale
The situation in Libya reflects a broader regional trend, with the International Organization for Migration reporting that over 700,000 migrants were registered in the country last year. The human cost of these journeys is significant, as the IOM reported in November that more than 1,000 people had died attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean route in 2025. These figures underscore the urgent need for safer alternatives and robust diplomatic engagement.
