The Nation Newspaper

Tag: United Nations (UN)

  • Johnson & Johnson announces 10-year initiative to help end TB

    At the first-ever United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (TB), Johnson & Johnson has announced a comprehensive 10-year initiative in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of ending the TB pandemic by 2030.

    With the goal of saving an estimated 1.8 million lives and preventing 12 million new TB infections in the next decade, Johnson & Johnson will work with partners to improve detection of undiagnosed cases of TB, broaden access to its novel medicine for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), and accelerate research & development (R&D) to discover next-generation TB treatments.

    “TB is the world’s number one infectious killer, and TB and MDR-TB cause major devastation for people, communities and entire countries around the world,” said Paul Stoffels, MD, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson & Johnson. “The good news is TB is both preventable and treatable, and Johnson & Johnson is committed to doing everything we can to create a world free from TB. This new initiative will unleash the power of science and technology to forever change the trajectory of TB.”

    Every year, 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis and approximately 1.6 million people die from the disease. TB is difficult to diagnose, and many of the drugs used today have had historically low cure rates and can lead to debilitating and even fatal side effects. Further, the disease is developing resistance to first-line medicines. Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) now accounts for approximately one-third of deaths from antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making TB the single largest cause of AMR-related deaths. There is growing consensus that new innovations are urgently needed in order to end the TB pandemic.

    This new, comprehensive initiative builds on Johnson & Johnson’s significant investments over two decades in the discovery, development and delivery of bedaquiline, the company’s medicines for the treatment of pulmonary MDR-TB in adults (≥ 18 years of age). When bedaquiline was conditionally approved by the FDA in 2012, it was the first targeted TB medicine with a novel mechanism of action in more than 40 years. Today, it is approved in 56 countries, including those with the highest TB burdens. As part of the company’s commitment to ensure access to bedaquiline for patients who need it, Johnson & Johnson has provided nearly 70,000 courses of treatment to patients in 107 countries.

    “Bedaquiline is a significant breakthrough in addressing the scourge of MDR-TB, and we are confident we can build on our innovation, our know-how and our network of committed global collaborators to do even more,” says Jaak Peeters, Global Head, Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health, Janssen-Cilag GmbH. “Our goal is to end the TB epidemic forever by finding and treating patients all over the world.”

     

    …Improving Detection of MDR-TB in High-Burden Countries

    Every year, approximately 4 million cases of TB – including hundreds of thousands of cases of MDR-TB – go undiagnosed, posing a risk to patients and public health security. As part of its new initiative, Johnson & Johnson is forging new strategic collaborations aimed at finding undiagnosed patients.

    The first of these is a new, never-before-announced partnership with Cepheid, a molecular diagnostics company that developed and manufactures the GeneXpert® System for TB. Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, and Cepheid will partner in India to train healthcare professionals to improve patient referrals for TB diagnosis and treatment. Further, they will partner in China to improve access to molecular tests for high-risk populations and train healthcare professionals on TB diagnosis and treatment.

    …Ensuring Affordable Access to Novel MDR-TB Treatment

    Johnson & Johnson is also reinforcing its commitment to expand affordable access to bedaquiline to all eligible people with MDR-TB by offering a non-commercial, special-effort price for more than 130 low- and middle-income countries, as well as non-governmental organizations, procuring through the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility.

    The special-effort price was announced in July in recognition of South Africa’s leadership in the fight against TB and extended to additional countries to help catalyze further action against MDR-TB. In June, South Africa became the first country to recommend an injection-free, bedaquiline-containing regimen for all eligible MDR-TB patients. The special-effort price covers the cost of manufacturing and critically important efforts focused on strengthening health system capacity and ensuring safe and appropriate use of bedaquiline in high-burden countries.

    …Accelerating R&D to Discover Innovative TB Treatments

    Additionally, Johnson & Johnson is building on its track record of successful therapeutic innovation for tuberculosis by significantly accelerating the development of next generation treatments and regimens for children and adults suffering from TB or MDR-TB.

    Both internally and through research collaborations with India’s Institute of Microbial Technology and other leading research institutions, the Janssen Pharmceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson will:

    Conduct pediatric studies for a bedaquiline-containing regimen for the treatment of children infected with MDR-TB,

    Advance a potential next-generation triple-drug regimen to treat and cure people suffering from MDR-TB with the aim of reducing the burden of treatment,

    Advance a potential universal, fast-acting TB regimen to treat and cure all forms of TB, whether drug-sensitive or drug-resistant, and

    Conduct early research into the potential of TB medicines to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active by intercepting and treating this dormant form of the disease.

  • Obaseki pledges support for terrorism victims

    …urges CSOs, donor agencies, others to complement govt.’s role

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide more support for victims of terrorism who reside in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)’ camps in the state.

    Obaseki made the pledge in commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, marked every August 21, by the United Nations (UN) and member states across the globe.

    He said, “While the Federal Government continues to intensify effort to subdue terrorists in the North East and other parts of Nigeria, Edo State will not relent in ensuring that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in camps in the state are provided with adequate structures to make their stay comfortable.

    “The IDPs would be further assisted in recovering from the trauma of terrorism, as it will facilitate their rehabilitation and integration into society.”

    The governor said more could still be achieved if well-meaning, public-spirited individuals, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), international donor agencies, among others, work closely with governments in scaling up assistance to victims of terrorism.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Obaseki felicitates with Muslims

    Obaseki noted that the state government will continue in coordinating efforts to assist IDPs in the state.

    According to the UN, “While more countries are affected by terrorism today, the number of victims has largely been concentrated in a small number of member states. In 2017 alone, nearly three-quarters of all deaths caused by terrorism were in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria.

    “Few members’ states have the resources or the capacity to fulfil the medium and long-term needs required for victims to fully recover, rehabilitate and integrate back into society. Victims can only recover and cope with their trauma through long-term multi-dimensional support, including physical, psychological, social and financial, in order to heal and live with dignity.”

    The global body added, “The primary responsibility to support victims of terrorism and uphold their rights rests with member states. The United Nations has an important role in supporting member states to implement Pillar I and IV of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy through standing in solidarity and providing support to victims, capacity building assistance, establishing networks of, and offering support to, civil society organizations, particularly victims of terrorism associations, and encouraging member states to promote, protect and respect the rights of victims.”

  • International Identity Day: ID4Africa, NIMC, others to petition UN

    The ID4Africa, National Identity Management Commission ( NIMC ) and other international organisations have decided to petition the United Nations ( UN ) to declare September 16 of every year as International Identity Day celebration.

    Dr Joseph Atick, the Executive Chairman, ID4Africa Movement, made the disclosure on Monday at a news briefing to commence the 4th annual meeting of the organisation in Abuja.

    The ID4Africa is a multi-stakeholder movement that promotes the transparent and responsible adoption of digital identity in the service of development in Africa.

    The 2018 ID4Africa Conference is scheduled from April 24 to April 26 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    Atick, who said that the petition would be launched on April 24 at the opening session of the conference, added that the campaign would be taken to New York until the success would be achieved.

    According to him, the petition is calling on the United Nations to recognise September 16 of every year as International Identity Day.

    “I want to make an announcement that it is going to be launched; another first African announcement which we will start here in Africa on April 24.

    “We will continue all the way to New York until we reach a successful end. The announcement is that we will be launching a petition tomorrow; a petition to the United Nations.

    “This petition is supported by the General Secretariat of the ID4Africa, the board of advisers of ID4Africa which has membership or representatives of the World Bank, UNDP, Centre for Growth and Development and of course NIMC, among others.

    “Together, we are launching a petition and the petition is that we are calling on the United Nations to recognise September 16 as International Identity Day,” he said.

    Explaining why September 16 should be declared as the day, Atick said the organisation adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals and that number 16.9 of the SDGs pushed for legal identity for all by 2030.

    “We have worked for many years together to establish what I called the Sustainable Development Goals. So government has responsibility by the year 2030 to give everybody in the country legal identity.

    “We want a day because identity is one of the most important aspects of human experience in a modern society.

    “We want to celebrate it, we want to create awareness for it, we also want to measure our progress towards the ultimate goal.

    “Once we get the United Nations declaring that as international day, different countries diversify it and observe it with different activities. So April 24, it is going to start in Abuja,” he said.

    Atick, who expressed optimism that 193 nations of the UN would vote in its support, said about 47 African nations would be attending the conference.

    The Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Aziz, however, said this year’s conference is tagged: “Harmonisation,” adding that it aimed at addressing issues of duplication of data by different agencies of government.

    He said the conference would be dealing on how to develop artificial intelligence, how to utilise it and how to get market intelligence in improving, especially agriculture.

    The Chairman Board of Director of NIMC, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the news briefing was to acquaint everyone with the conduct of the conference on ID4Africa.

    He described the organisation as a movement of countries within the continent that have come to the understanding of leveraging ID ecosystem on digital system.

    NAN

  • United Nations pays tribute to 140 fallen staff members

    The United Nations has held a memorial service to remember 140 personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty between July 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2017.

    “I wish we never had to mourn the loss of colleagues,’’ Secretary-General António Guterres said at the ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York.

    “But the sad fact is that people do lose their lives while serving the United Nations and it is our duty to honour their service and sacrifice,’’ Guterres said.

    Of the 140 killed, 123 were military personnel; three police; and 14 civilians and they came from 42 nations.

    “Were it not for the sacrifices of United Nations peacekeepers, humanitarians and other personnel, the people who needed urgent support in the most difficult and dangerous environments would have experienced greater suffering.’’

    The UN chief invited the bereaved families and others in attendance to join him in observing a moment of silence.

    Guterres noted that over the past years, respect for those wearing UN symbols had diminished, making them a target of those who oppose to peace “despite all our efforts to ensure the safety and security of our personnel.’’

    He recalled that between 2005 and 2015 when he was UN High Commissioner for Refugees, symbols like the Red Cross, Red Crescent and UN used to be respected even by militant groups.

    He regretted that this respect was progressively being lost and in the end, he was starting to see situations in which UN staff were targeted exactly because they were UN staff.

    Guterres, however, stressed that all around the world, the blue UN flag represented the hopes of some of the world’s most vulnerable people for peace, security and an opportunity for a better future.

    Since 2011, the UN Secretariat has held an annual memorial service to honour fallen colleagues.

    Guterres said that the UN faced “a terrible dilemma” about sending staff to the most difficult areas at the most dangerous moments.

    “If they don’t go, the people we care for will suffer, even more, facing more dangerous situations and circumstances,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • As planet expands, water quality, supply is declining – UN warns

    The UN on Monday warned that as the global population expands and the planet warms, demand for water is rising, while the quality and reliability of our water supply is declining.

    In the 2018 edition of the World Water Development Report, the UN said world should look to nature for better ways to maintain supplies of water, keep it clean, and protect people from droughts and floods.

    The UN said one response is to invest more in protecting ecosystems that recycle water, such as wetlands and vegetation, and spend less on concrete flood barriers or wastewater treatment plants.

    Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, which coordinates the report, called for “new solutions” to tackle “emerging challenges to water security caused by population growth and climate change”.

    “If we do nothing, some five billion people will be living in areas with poor access to water by 2050,” she said in a statement.

    Demand for water is expected to increase by nearly one-third by 2050, said Gilbert Houngbo, chair of UN-Water, in the report’s foreword.

    To help manage competing demands for freshwater – whether to quench human thirst, water crops or produce electricity, UNESCO recommended “working with nature, rather than against it” in a bid to make water use more efficient, cost-effective and healthier for people and the environment.

    “For too long, the world has turned first to human-built, or ‘grey’, infrastructure to improve water management,” wrote Houngbo.

    “In so doing, it has often brushed aside traditional and indigenous knowledge that embraces greener approaches.”

    UNESCO outlined the benefits of “nature-based solutions”, which use or mimic natural processes to increase water availability, improve its quality and reduce risks linked to water-related disasters and climate change.

    Those solutions include changing farming practices so the soil retains more moisture and nutrients, harvesting rainwater, re-charging aquifers, conserving wetlands that capture runoff and decontaminate water, restoring floodplains and turning rooftops into gardens.

    UNESCO cited estimates that agricultural production could be increased by nearly 20 percent worldwide if greener water management practices were used.

    Richard Connor, editor-in-chief of the report, said switching to a “conservation agriculture” model could bring high and rapid returns, but achieving it on a large scale would require political will at the national level.

    “Agriculture internationally remains dominated by industrial (farming), and it can be a little more difficult to influence the private-sector interests that are involved,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

    He said some companies were adopting more sustainable practices, while consumers – mainly in Europe and North America – increasingly prefer organic, locally grown food.

    Inside cities, the challenge is to capture and filter more water using “green infrastructure” – from water retention ponds to wild spaces that double up for leisure activities.

    And out of town, in the basins on which cities rely, water users like farmers need to cooperate with municipal authorities to ensure enough clean water for all.

    UNESCO said New York, for example, has protected its three biggest watersheds since the late 1990s, resulting in an unfiltered water supply that brings savings of more than 300 million dollars per year on water treatment and maintenance costs.

    Connor said “grey” infrastructure – such as piped water to slums, dams to control water flow on rivers, or concrete walls to keep out big storm surges and floods – would still be needed.

    Yet while growing amounts are spent on green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions, evidence suggests they account for less than 1 percent of total investment in infrastructure to manage water resources, the report said.

    Connor pointed to the extra advantages of using natural ways to manage water, including the potential to boost biodiversity, jobs, health and carbon storage.

    “If you start to look at these co-benefits that often do not exist with grey infrastructure … it should tip the investment decisions towards more nature-based solutions,” he said.

    Reuters/NAN

  • UN allocates $9m to support life-saving aid in North-East

    The United Nations (UN ), through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, has allocated nine million dollars to provide life-saving aid to some 60,000 children, women and men recently displaced by ongoing hostilities in Borno.

    Ms Yasmina Guerda, Public Information, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ), in a statement made available to our reporter on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to her, the money includes $2 million in support of the UN Humanitarian Air Service for frontline responders in North-East Nigeria.

    “The humanitarian crisis in the region remains one of the most severe in the world today, with at least 7.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2018 in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

    “About 80 per cent of them, 6.1 million are targeted for humanitarian assistance,’’ she said.

    She said the $9 million allocation would help fund 15 projects.

    She added that it would also support humanitarian rapid response in areas recently affected by large-scale conflict-related displacements, particularly in the northern parts of Borno, along Maiduguri to Monguno axis.

    Guerda said close to 30,000 persons have fled the violence in areas that are hard to reach for international humanitarian organisations in three months.

    She added that the persons are in dire need of food, water, shelter, blankets, clothes and medical services.

    Guerda said the funds would help to scale up the response near the border with Cameroon in eastern Borno such as Gwoza, Bama, Dikwa, Kala/Balge, Monguno, Askira/Uba and northern Adamawa (Madagali).

    “Another 30,000 persons approximately have arrived in just three months following military operations.”
    She said the funds would also help maintain UN Humanitarian Air Service operations.

    She added that the UN Humanitarian Air Service operations are crucial for aid workers to be able to reach and deliver aid in remote areas of the north-east, especially areas where roads cannot be used.

    She quoted Edward Kallon, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, as saying that the crisis continues to displace thousands of vulnerable women, children and men every week.

    Kallon said many have gone through unspeakable hardship and the UN and its partners remain committed to help alleviate their suffering.

    “This UN fund give us the flexibility to prioritise those who are most in need of aid and act swiftly for the good of the people of north-east Nigeria,” he said.

    Nigeria Humanitarian Fund ( NHF ) was created to provide funds in a flexible and timely manner so those who need it the most have access to basic life-saving support.

    The fund was managed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon.

    The NHF is one of 18 country-based pooled funds and was launched during the Oslo Humanitarian Conference for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region in February 2017.

    NAN

  • 2019: INEC seeks UN support on capacity building, voter education

    2019: INEC seeks UN support on capacity building, voter education

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has called for United Nations ( UN ) support in capacity-building and voter-education ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call during the commission’s meeting with UN’s Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) delegation on Monday in Abuja.

    Yakubu said that the commission would need the support to build capacity of its staff and political parties, and in voter education and general sensitisation.

    Other areas of needs for the elections, according to him, are electoral legal framework, electoral conflict, mitigation and inclusiveness, particularly of women, youths and People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).

    Yakubu commended the UN for its support to INEC and other election management bodies in Africa, through its agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ).

    “Over the years, the UN has been providing critical support to INEC in our efforts to introduce and sustain reforms of the electoral system in Nigeria.

    “The UN agencies such as the UNDP have been of immense assistance to the commission, especially in building our capacity and extending the same support to our numerous stakeholders as well,’’ Yakubu said.

    He said that the commission looked forward to working together with the UN for the consolidation and deepening of democracy in Nigeria.

    The INEC chairman said that the commission had continued to maintain and expand engagements with stakeholders in the electoral process, especially as it prepared for the elections.

    He added that over the last two electoral cycles, 2010 to 2015 and 2015 to 2019, the commission had deliberately and purposefully embarked on far-reaching reforms of the electoral system.

    On his part, leader of the UN delegation, Mr Serge Kubwimana, said that they were at INEC to know the preparation of the commission for the elections and to know areas the UN could assist it.

    “The objective of the visit is to work together to see the context in which the commission has been prepared, and together identify areas where the commission may deem fit to have the UN collaboration as seen in the past,’’ he said.

    Kubwimana, who is in the UN Electoral Assistance Division and Team Leader of NAM in Nigeria, said “in doing so, the UN will look at the overall context – political context, social economic context and human right context’’.

    He added that in conducting the needs assessments, the UN would work with relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, women organisations and People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).

    “Women organisation is also an important aspect of our collaboration to see how we can increase representation of women in politics and also increase number of voters.

    “Security is also important in any given contest,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • CSO urges Borno to conduct census of persons with disabilities

    CSO urges Borno to conduct census of persons with disabilities

    The Network of Civil Society Organisations, Borno Chapter, has called on the state government to conduct head-count of Persons with Disabilities ( PLWD ), to fast track implementation of support services to them.

    Mr Ahmad Shehu, Chairman of the organisation, made the call at a rally to commemorate the 2017 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, on Monday in Maiduguri.

    Shehu said that the call was imperative to build a comprehensive data of persons with disability to facilitate proper planning and implementation of support programmes.

    He said that lack of population data on persons with disabilities hindered effective implementation of programmes, designed to improve their social and economic well-being.

    “The government should create an enabling environment for PLWD to attain their potentials because it is the only way to prevent them from street begging.

    “Absence of data of persons with disabilities affect planning and interventions, hence the need to carry out census.
    “Establishment of social protection programme is essential to guarantee their support and survival.

    Special programme for employment and education of the PLWD should be implemented in the state,” he said.

    Shehu urged the United Nations ( UN ) agencies and development organisations to accord priority in their interventions to persons with disabilities in the state.

    Also, Malam Umar Muhammad, the Chairman of the Blind Association, appealed to the National Emergency Agency ( NEMA ), to include their members in the emergency food intervention programme.

    Muhammad lamented that persons with disabilities were not benefiting from the programme in the crisis affected areas of the state.
    “We registered 41, 414 members, most of them were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “It is disheartening to see that we are not benefiting from the food intervention programme,” he said.

    Muhammad also called on Gov. Kashim Shettima, to appoint their members into various political positions, to ensure their representation in governance.

    NAN

  • World AIDS Day: Let’s fight the scourge

    World AIDS Day: Let’s fight the scourge

    By Moses Emorinken

    World AIDS Day is observed every 1st of December. It is a day dedicated to spreading awareness about the dreadful Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ( AIDS ).

    The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Right to health”. The World Health Organization highlights the need for all 36.7 million people living with HIV and those who are vulnerable and affected by the epidemic, to reach the goal of universal health coverage.

    Today, we join the World Health Organisation ( WHO ), United Nations ( UN ) and other global organisations to campaign for global public health.

    We also remember those who have lost their lives to the disease and commiserate with those that have lost friends, colleagues and family members.

    The battle against this disease is not a one-man fight but a collective battle to reduce its effect to the barest minimum.

    Whether we like it or not, we all share a common destiny, and as such must contribute our quota to securing and creating a safe and healthy society that we can all be proud of.

    Recent statistics from The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) reveal that in 2016, Nigeria had 220,000 new HIV infections and 160 000 AIDS-related deaths.

    There were 3,200,000 people living with HIV in 2016, among whom 30% were accessing antiretroviral therapy.

    Among pregnant women living with HIV, 32% were accessing treatment or prophylaxis to prevent transmission of HIV to their children.

    An estimated 37,000 children were newly infected with HIV due to mother-to-child transmission. Among people living with HIV, approximately 24% had suppressed viral loads.

    Also, globally, UNAIDS statistics revealed that:

    In 2016 (June 2017) an estimated:

    1. 20.9 million [18.4 million–21.7 million] people were accessing antiretroviral therapy

    2. 36.7 million [30.8 million–42.9 million] people globally were living with HIV

    3. 1.8 million [1.6 million–2.1 million] people became newly infected with HIV

    4. 1.0 million [830 000–1.2 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses

    Major Populations most affected by HIV in Nigeria are:

    1. Sex workers, with an HIV prevalence of 14.4%.
    2. Gay men and other men who have sex with men, with an HIV prevalence of 23%.
    3. People who inject drugs, with an HIV prevalence of 3.4%.

    Nigeria’s HIV epidemic affects all population groups and geographic areas of the country. It is the second largest epidemic globally.

    We need to begin to take decisive actions as individuals, organisations and government to tackle this pervasive disease threatening our collective survival. The extent to which we can extinguish this scourge depends heavily on each of us.

    Although Since 2010, new HIV infections have decreased by 21% and AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 6%; there is still need for further research to improve the current available treatment plans.

    Difference between HIV and AIDS:

    HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus leads to infection and weakens the immune system.

    It is pertinent to know that HIV can be transmitted from one person to another. On the flip, AIDS is a condition that is acquired only after a person has contracted the HIV infection, and it is the final stage of the HIV infection.

    Mediums of HIV transmission:

    1. Unprotected sex (anal or vaginal).
    2. Sharing contaminated sharp objects like needles, syringes etc. Also, the use of unsterilized clippers for barbing and shaving hairs can be a source of contracting the virus.
    3. Receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions, tissue transplantation etc.

    Treatment of HIV:

    HIV can be suppressed by the administration of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

    It cannot be cured at the moment, but its effect can be weakened, thereby strengthening the individual’s ability to resist infections.

  • 127 Ghanaian illegal migrants evacuated from Libya – UN agency

    127 Ghanaian illegal migrants evacuated from Libya – UN agency

    The International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ), a related organization of the United Nations ( UN ) on Thursday said it evacuated 127 Ghanaian illegal migrants from the volatile situation in Libya.

    Kojo Wilmot, a national officer of IOM said the aircraft carrying these migrants arrived Ghana around 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday local time.

    Wilmot said that there was one female and two minors among the rescued migrants.

    “We promote orderly migration, but these people were caught up in a volatile situation and were being held under various forms of inhumane treatment.

    “We, therefore, intervened to protect their human rights and return them home in a dignified and safe manner,” Wilmot explained.

    Majority of the returnees, the official said, were not from Accra, Ghana’s capital, but from Takoradi, 218 km west of the capital and Kumasi, 280 km north of the capital.

    Others are from Sunyani, 400 km north of the capital and other areas across the country.

    The IOM, therefore, provided them with a means of transportation back to their final destinations and would be supporting their re-integration into their communities.

    “Due to the inhumane conditions they were being kept, most of them would need psychosocial counselling.

    “We would also work together with government of Ghana and the EU mission in Ghana to support them with basic livelihood to help enhance their integration process,” he added.

    Wilmot explained that since these immigrants were mostly undocumented, who used illegal means to enter Libya and they were forced to do menial jobs, mostly “Malaga” (plastering buildings) but were usually handed over to the police when they pursue those, who hired them for payment.

    “One Ghanaian, who had painted a complete house went to the owner to receive payment, but instead the owner called the police, who came to arrest him.

    “While trying to escape from the police, the Ghanaian was knocked down by a vehicle,” the official said.

    He added that there was also sexual violence against the female migrants being held in Libyan detention camps, where they were captured and being kept.

    IOM has identified three more detention camps across Libya with at least 266 Ghanaians among the detainees.

    “We will work with all stakeholders to ensure safe and humane return of these Ghanaians and other sub-Saharan African migrants in these conditions.

    “Considering the conditions in Libya, most of them come to us voluntarily seeking help to return home.

    “The situation is dire and we invite all stakeholders to get their hands on deck to help in bringing back these migrants to their final destinations,” he indicated.

    Xinhua/NAN