Tripoli, 12 February – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) partnered with Weill Cornell Medicine College to provide a comprehensive 10-days Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme from 16 to 26 January 2024 to address the critical need for emergency care and dead body management along perilous migration routes.

In the Sahara Desert, a main crossing point along the Central Mediterranean Route which is one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, migrants face extreme heat, lack of shelter, dehydration, and limited access to healthcare.

In response to these challenges, the training aimed at equipping Libyan first responders, law enforcement, as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel with the necessary skills to provide immediate life-saving medical assistance to migrants in distress.

“This partnership underscores IOM's commitment to promoting a more humane approach to migration management and emergency care by leveraging the right expertise and resources,” said Tauhid Pasha, IOM Libya’s ad interim Chief of Mission.

The training curriculum covered a range of critical topics, including hypothermia, hyperthermia/heatstroke, burns and exposure injury, near drowning, and stabilization of bleeding. 

Upon completion of the program, 15 trainers were equipped to cascade the training within multiple line ministries and local humanitarian agencies in Libya, including the Libyan Red Crescent. 

This new partnership between IOM Libya and Weill Cornell Medicine College marks a significant milestone in our endeavour to provide quality and timely emergency care accessible to all migrants in need.

The collaboration opens avenues for innovative approaches to emergency care, including telemedicine solutions that bridge geographical barriers and enhance access to healthcare for migrants in remote locations.

For more information, please contact:

Franz Prutsch, IOM Libya International Border Governance Programme Manager, FPRUTSCH@iom.int
Giacomo Terenzi, IOM Libya Head of Programme Development Support Unit, gterenzi@iom.int