Qatar To Fund Evacuation Of African Migrants From Libya

African migrants at a shelter in Libya. Image: Kate Joseph/Dept. of International Development

(MIDDLE EAST MONITOR)--Qatar is to fund the evacuation of African migrants from Libya via the African Union.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, issued a decree yesterday to set up a fund which will cover the cost of evacuating illegal African migrants from Libya and reintegrating them into their countries.

Qatar will contribute $20 million to the fund, which will be run under the auspices of the African Union, Al-Sharq reported. The decision was announced following a visit by the chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, to the Qatari capital Doha yesterday.

The initiative comes in the context of Qatar’s aim to support humanitarian and development work in the African Union countries and alleviate the difficult living conditions faced by these migrants.