DHAKA, Oct 22, 2024 (BSS) - On the request of Bangladesh government, International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking into the possibility of additional support to facilitate the safe return of its nationals from Lebanon. 

The IOM is also working to ensure a safe passage home for the expatriate Bangladeshis those left vulnerable in Lebanon, an IOM press release said here today amid the escalating conflict in this Middle Eastern country, said a press release. 
 
“The IOM is exploring potential avenues to extend additional support for vulnerable Bangladeshi nationals in Lebanon at soonest,” said IOM’s acting Chief of Mission in Bangladesh Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali.

Terming the Bangladesh government’s efforts to evacuate its nationals as commendable, she said that IOM stands committed to support the Bangladeshi authorities in these humanitarian efforts. 

On Monday, the flight with the first batch of evacuees arrived in Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) via Jeddah with a group comprising 54 individuals, including 20 women and 8 children. 

Another batch of 58 individuals is expected to arrive in Bangladesh on Wednesday, said the IOM.  

These evacuees are among nearly 1,800 Bangladeshi nationals who have expressed their wish to voluntarily return due to the deteriorating security conditions in Lebanon. 

“The government will repatriate all the stranded migrants with government cost, from war ridden Lebanon and will rehabilitate them as required,” said expatriate welfare and overseas employment adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul while receiving the repatriated Bangladeshis at the airport.  

Upon arrival at the HSIA, the returnees were provided with immediate assistance by IOM, including food, brief medical assessment, and onward transportation support to ensure safe travel to their place of origin. 

IOM has collaborated with the Bangladesh government to safely return more than 150,000 of its nationals from conflict situations in the past including the Gulf crisis, Libya and more recently Sudan. 
Bangladesh foreign affairs and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment ministries are partnering in supporting the evacuation of vulnerable Bangladeshi nationals and are being supported by the IOM with assistance of General Security in Lebanon and financial support from the European Union.
 
The situation in Lebanon remains tense, with many areas affected by ongoing airstrikes, severely impacting the safety of civilians, including migrant communities. 

Bangladesh interim government is closely monitoring the situation, issuing necessary instructions to ensure the safety of those remaining in Lebanon, and will continue to provide support to repatriate stranded Bangladeshi nationals.