Abdelhafiz craved a better life.

The 25-year-old knew the risks associated with making the dangerous trip to Libya, yet his friends’ success stories that made it back to his town motivated him to make the same trip.

Unemployed and disillusioned with his life, Abdelhafiz embarked on a 2,000-kilometer bus ride to Libya.

Abdelhafiz was born and raised in Ag Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, known for its spectacular scenery and natural beauty, yet it was not unaffected by decades of conflict and the effects of the deteriorating economy that continues to ravage Sudan.

"I thought to myself, I am young, and my family needs me to provide for them. I believed that in Europe it would be easy for me to get a job. But for me to reach Europe, first I had to go through Libya”, he recalled.

In Libya, Abdelhafiz worked as a construction worker to afford his onward journey to Europe. His job involved hard labour and heavy lifting. He saved a month’s wages to afford the smuggler’s fee to take him to Europe.  

Together with 150 migrants, Abdelhafiz boarded a boat, which he described as small, flimsy, and made of plastic and rubber. Half an hour from their voyage the boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Libya. The Libyan coast guards saved the passengers’ lives.

"I consider myself very lucky I survived that day. I thought I was going to die, another migrant who drowned at sea on the way to Europe. It was not worth it.”

“When I heard that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) could assist me reunite with my family, I applied for voluntary return assistance”, he added.

In 2017, through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative (EU-IOM JI) for Migrant Protection and Reintegration Programme, Abdelhafiz was given the option to return voluntarily from Libya to Sudan in a safe and dignified manner. The programme assists returning migrants by providing reintegration assistance and creating employment opportunities by encouraging them to set up micro businesses to support their families.

Every year, thousands of migrants like Abdelhafiz attempt the risky voyage from Africa to Europe by boat, hoping for a better life. According to IOM's Missing Migrant Project, in 2022, more than 1,300 migrants were either reported dead or missing after attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach European shores.

As part of the reintegration assistance provided by the EU-IOM JI, Abdelhafiz was provided with two sewing machines to re-establish his life; he set up a men’s traditional full-suit tailoring business with a friend. From the income generated by their successful business, they expanded their operations by buying a third sewing machine and a heavy-duty iron. Abdelhafiz can now meet all his financial needs and provide for his family.

"I already had experience in tailoring before migrating, which is what helped me decide to start the tailoring business. Instead of searching for a job, I created one for myself. How amazing is that!”

Sudan, like other countries in the region, faces a high youth unemployment rate and lack of economic empowerment opportunities. Small businesses such as Abdelhafiz’ s play a vital role in job creation, social growth, and economic development.

Four years after starting his business, Abdelhafiz employs four youth from his community, enabling them to provide for their families and giving them an alternative to irregular migration.

About the EU-IOM Joint Initiative

Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa. Twenty-six African countries from the Sahel and Lake Chad region, the Horn of Africa, and North Africa, the European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), work toward ensuring that migration is safer, more informed, and better governed for both migrants and their communities.

 

Written by Fathia Amin, IOM Sudan, fatamin@iom.int 

For more information, please contact:

Linda Onias, IOM Sudan,  lonias@iom.int 

Muthoni Annie Njenga, IOM Regional Office in Nairobi, mnjenga@iom.int

For more information on the EU-IOM Joint Initiative, visit www.migrationjointinitiative.org/

For more information on IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, visit www.missingmigrants.iom.int/

Abdelhafiz

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