UN repatriation project to charter aircraft to transport 40 Somalians from Maldivian authorities

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul Samad Abdulla has said that the an aircraft will be chartered under UN aid to repatriate the 40 Somalian citizens currently under Maldivian authorities.

Speaking to Sun today, Foreign Minister Samad said that preparations for the repatriation of the 40 Somalians is now ongoing and that their passports have already been readied through the Somalian Embassy in Delhi, India.

“The delay in their departure is due to some of the arrangements that have to be made from their government, which have not been made. I think back then, the Somalian government did not want to take them back. But they have agreed to take them back by working through the UN,” Dr. Samad said.

All Somalian citizens under government care will be repatriated within one month’s time, the Minister said.

“UN has granted all the funds. They have decided to charter an aircraft to take them all together. This has now been arranged,” Dr. Samad said.

The Somalian citizens came under Maldivian authorities after drifting into Maldivian waters on different occasions. The repatriation of the Somalians are being carried out under an initiative by the United Nations Trust Fund for the Fight against Piracy, some five projects worth $2 million. The projects support anti-piracy efforts in Somalia and other States affected by piracy, including Maldives, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Seychelles.