Flight of repatriated Afghans

The first planeload of Afghan illegal migrants who signed up for the Greek government's voluntary return programme departed from the Athens International Airport on Monday, a few months after the repatriation programme was first launched.

On board the Gulf Air charter flight were 40 illegal migrants from Afghanistan who had opted to return to their home country. The plane is to make a stop in Bahrain, where another aircraft will pick them up in order to take them to their final destination. Illegal migrants signing up for the voluntary return programme receive the price of their airline ticket and 300 euros each. Their return is assisted by representatives of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who accept their applications, and police officers stationed at the airport for this purpose.

According to authorities, the plane's departure marks the start of the second phase of the programme. Another 500 non-EU foreigners -- all lacking travel documents -- are expected to make use of this programme in order to return to their countries by the end of June. Another 586 illegal migrants have already returned to their country of origin during the first phase of the programme.

The programme receives 75 percent of its funding from the European Return Fund and the remaining 25 percent from national funds, while the funds are administrated by Greek police.
 
ANA-MPA