Labour Minister Seeks Aid for Sierra Leonean Migrants in Lebanon
At a high-level migration conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, urgently requested international assistance for Sierra Leonean migrants trapped in Lebanon amid escalating regional conflict. Speaking at the 2024 Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration in Africa, Minister Swaray emphasized the dire plight of Sierra Leonean women stranded in Lebanon as the conflict intensifies.
The conference, held from October 8 to 10, gathered leaders and representatives from across Africa to assess progress and challenges in implementing the Global Compact for Migration. Minister Swaray highlighted growing security concerns in Lebanon, where many Sierra Leonean female domestic workers face increasingly vulnerable conditions due to the ongoing Israeli-Lebanon war.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens must be a priority,” Swaray stated, urging the international community and development partners to take immediate action. “These women are enduring unimaginable hardships, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their safe return.”
The Minister’s appeal focused on the urgent need for swift evacuation and humanitarian aid for stranded migrants. He called on partner countries under the Global Compact for Migration to support Sierra Leone during this critical time, underscoring the importance of international solidarity to protect the rights and dignity of all migrants in conflict zones.
“As the situation continues to deteriorate, the risks to these women are escalating. We cannot afford to wait. The time to act is now, before the crisis deepens,” Swaray warned.
His plea reflects the Sierra Leonean government’s broader concern for its citizens abroad, particularly those caught in conflict areas, and highlights the need for coordinated international efforts to address the challenges faced by distressed migrants.
