IOM Launches online Campaign to Sensitize African Migrants
International Organization for Migration has launched an online campaign to sensitize African migrants on the dangers of illegal routes to the western world.
The Aware Migrants campaign through social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter will give migrants the opportunity to exchange opinions and experiences, share pictures, videos and other types of testimonies gathered throughout the journey.
The aim is to inform migrants from 15 countries – mostly in West Africa plus Tunisia and Egypt – about the dangers of migrating irregularly across the Sahara desert, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea.
Figures realeased by IOM has it that 19,567 migrants arrived by sea to Italy in 2017, while 521 died at sea. According to the organization, majority of these migrants are from Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia.
in a stement announcing the campaign, IOM said , “Some of the migrants who make it to Europe and share their ordeal with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) (www.IOM.int), reveal that their journey was far more dangerous than expected. Many are unaware of the dangers and risks of migrating with the assistance of smugglers, not only at sea or in the desert, but also in transit countries like Libya.
“Recalling the life-threatening risks along their journey is often very distressing and in many instances, most migrants wish to forget and move forward with their lives and therefore tend not to share their experience with peers who are still back home.”
To this effect, Flavio Di Giacomo and Shiraz Jerbi, IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean – the UN Migration Agency will host an online press conference on Wednesday March 15 at 10am GMT.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Comment
No comments found.