IOM #Kenya newsletter (July 2014)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pg.4. Horn of Africa Migration Routes Shifting Pg. 6. From Ethnic Violence to Seeds of Peace Pg. 7. Rapid Increase in Trafficking and Sexual exploitation of Minors in Kenya

Pg. 8. Evidence for Policy: IOM Conducts Research on Migration and Environment in Kenya

Pg. 10. Teachers Training to Support Survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence

Pg. 9. United States Ambassador to Kenya Tours the IOM Migration Health Facilities at the Kakuma Refugee Camp

Pg.11. AUSCO Programe in Kenya Grows in Leaps and Bounds

IOM Kenya Newsletter IOM Kenya Newsletter Issue 10 July 2014

Special Feature: IOM Response to the South Sudan Crisis

SOUTH SUDAN CRISIS: iom Kenya’s Support To Refugees On 15 December 2013, political turmoil lead to an outbreak of violence in South Sudan’s capital Juba which quickly spread to other locations in the country, including Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Unity and Upper Niles states. 1.1 milliion people have been internally displaced across the country since 15 December 2013 and another quarter of a million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, in particular Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda (UNHCR, July 2014).

The current situation remains tense and compounds an already critical humanitarian situation inside South Sudan and within the region, with 4.9 million people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance and 3.7 million people at high risk of food insecurity. The current rainy season in South Sudan is impeding access to populations in need of life-saving assistance and the delivery of humanitarian assistance by road.

Over 430,000 people have crossed South Sudan’s borders into neighbouring countries, with women, children, and older people forming a large part of the arriving refugees. The refugees often arrive in a worrying state of health after walking for a long distance with heavy luggage, requiring humanitarian assistance, including transport by bus, boat, or plane, to reach camps where other life-saving services, including shelter, NFIs, food, as well as health and WASH assistance can be provided.

To support South Sudanese refugees, IOM is providing humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. Registration, transportation assistance, relocation, and WASH assistance are ongoing activities to assist the population of concern.

Heavy rains have become a challenge, leaving some roads impassable and complicating the transportation process. IOM will continue to provide transportation from the border area of Nadapal to the reception centre, refugee camps in Kakuma and other possible locations in Kakuma. This includes transporting asylum seekers arriving from South Sudan at Nadapal border crossing to Kakuma reception centres.

IOM continues to work in close coordination with UNHCR to conduct onward transportation after initial registration, with around 20,500 new arrivals transported by IOM since the start of the South Sudan crisis and refugee influx. At the start of the crisis, IOM and UNHCR were operating a daily convoy that comprised of four buses, three trucks and three lightweight vehicles accompanied by an ambulance and security escort.

The refugees are received at the border point of Nadapal and transported to the Reception Centre in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Nadapal lies approximately 25 kilometres North West of Lokichoggio while Lokichoggio town is 95 Km from Kakuma. The Government of Kenya, through the Immigration and Department of Refugee Affairs is responsible for the reception and registration of the refugees at the border.

During the month of January an average of 3,000 refugees were provided with transportation assistance per month and the figure spiralled to 7,759 refugees in March, marking the peak of arriving refugees since the onset of the crisis. The numbers plummeted in April and reached its lowest in June with 1,971 refugees arriving and provided with onward transportation.

Most of the arriving refugees, mainly women and children, are in a good state of health. In June, heavy rains in Juba, Jonglei, Kapoeta and Torit, coupled with lack of funds by the refugees, continued to hinder the onward movement of refugees to the border point, hence the low number of arriving refugees. Some of the refugees are taking up temporary jobs to finance their journey to Kenya. UNHCR is negotiating with the County Government to be allocated additional land to settle new arrivals after the Kakuma Camp reached its maximum holding capacity.

The South Sudan Conflict has Seen Refugees Arrive in Kenya in their Numbers “The rebels entered UNMISS and killed civilians. At some point, access to food was a challenge and the children could not go to school anymore. These fighters entered schools and killed children so we did not want to risk sending them there.

Some unlucky pregnant mothers that they encountered met untimely deaths. For those that tried to access UNMISS, like me, the fighters only allowed in women and children.

This is Achan’s** first time in Kenya. She came here hoping that her children will be able to go to school. She does not know her husband’s whereabouts and lost contact with her three daughters. “I hope that they found their way to safety somewhere and that we can reunite soon.”

Achan is one of thousands of South Sudanese refugees who made it across South Sudan border in to Kenya. He was received and taken to the Kakuma Refugee Camp where he could receive the much needed support.

Many families got separated during the conflict and children are living with the trauma of watching their parents die. 17 year old James Jafar** comes from Bor region in South Sudan.

His mother died during childbirth and was brought up by his father who provided and took him to school. “My world turned upside down in February 2014 when marauding gangs attacked our village. I hid in the store as my father pleaded with them to spare our lives, unfortunately, they mercilessly

hacked him to death and set our home ablaze. In the melee, I managed to flee under the cover of darkness. I fled to Juba where for the past four months I did odd jobs until I could raise enough money to hire transport and come to Kenya. I’m sure I will be safe here in Kakuma and I hope I will resume with my studies, somehow.”

Although the refugees are relieved to find transportation when they arrive in Kenya, many narrate of harrowing ordeals as they sought their way to Kenya. Many have suffered attacks and robbed by highway bandits. They have survived high cost of transportation to make it to Kenya, fuel shortage in South Sudan, heavy rains and impassable roads, flooded seasonal rivers and hunger.

In its efforts to provide humane and reliable transportation assistance, IOM has been able to provide buses and trucks to transport the refugees and their luggages to the Kakuma Refugee Camp. In coordination with WFP, IOM has been able to provide water and high energy biscuits for the refugees on arrival at Nadapal and on transit to the refugee camp.

By providing safe transportation for the refugees, IOM has enhanced the much needed protection, a first step towards their stay at the Kakuma Refugee Camp. **Names have been changed to protect their identity

Horn of Africa Migration Routes Shifting routes, forcing many seeking refuge to take more dangerous, riskier routes to Europe.

IOM Djibouti and SLO Addis Ababa have assisted a number of stranded migrants to return back home from Obock to Ethiopia through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme. 101 Ethiopian migrant left Djibouti with assistance from the Migration Response Center on 15 May. Within this group there were 58 men, 40 minors and 3 women.

Migrants often trek for long distance to reach their destination There has been a downward trend in the number of migrants crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. Arrival numbers in Yemen in the first five months of 2014 are comparatively lower than previous years.

This decrease in arrivals came about due to the mass deportations from Saudi Arabia of unregistered employees. However, in April and May of 2014 there was a resurgence of irregular migrants using this route, as reported by IOM staff at the Migration Response Centre in Obock, Djibouti.

Yemen arrivals from Horn of Africa were 6,261 in May 2013 and 8,706 in May 2014.

The Red Sea crossing from the Djiboutian coastline has become the preferred route of choice as opposed to the Arabian Sea crossing from the Puntland/Somaliland coastline.

The decrease in the number of migrants arriving from Horn of Africa to Yemen in the first half of 2014 is due to a shift in migratory routes. Irregular migrants find that the previously popular routes have been closed off to them due to stricter border controls and restrictive legislation on foreign workers in Saudi Arabia; leading to a drastic dip in numbers towards the end of 2013.

Italy captured international headlines in October 2013 when a boat, carrying hundreds of asylum seekers sunk off its coast, killing over 360 people. It brought much needed attention to the plight of people trying to reach Europe.

Although the incident reflects the tremendous increase in African migration to Europe in recent years, the recent resurgence on the Eastern route in the past two months indicates it has not been a categorical shift.

Stricter border controls in Saudi Arabia have led many to divert their destination to Europe. Saudi Arabia has built a 1,800km fence along its border with Yemen, and has deported thousands of undocumented Ethiopian migrant workers.

The strict border controls saw Saudi Arabia expell over 160,000 Ethiopian migrants late last year. By early May 2014, over 163,000 Ethiopian returnees had arrived home from Saudi Arabia and they were later processed at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.

The return of migrants from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia is ongoing as of 30 June 2014.

IOM assisted 153,126 or 93 per cent of the returnees.

It is apparent that efforts to limit migration have only succeeded in shifting migration

The instability across North Africa and the Sahel, coupled with the erosion of Libya’s capacity to control its own borders, has resulted in an unprecedented surge of migrants to Italy in recent years. Migrants embarking on the popular western route across Sudan and Libya in the hope of reaching Europe face a lack of protection measures en route, with a significant number dying during the Saharan crossing from dehydration, lack of food, mistreatment by smugglers, or vehicle accidents.

In October 2013, Italy launched Operation Mare Nostrum to tackle the immigration emergency. The operation was set up in attempt to deal with the latest waves of migrants arriving on its coasts. The mission attempts to ensure tragic incidents like the capsizing of a boat carrying migrants on October 3 is not repeated. The most recent rescues included 200 migrants picked up in international waters off Malta by a US naval vessel and another 107 picked up by a Maltese merchant ship.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, more than 170 migrants have died since the beginning of 2014 trying to reach Europe by sea. During the rescue operations, two migrants reportedly died and three went missing. While Operation Mare Nostrum has saved thousands of lives, deaths at sea are continuing. On 13 May, 200 migrants were rescued after a shipwreck south of Lampedusa Island.

Migrant boats capsizing at sea continue to capture the attention of international

4.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

media. However, the response of concerned governments and humanitarian agencies has not brought about sufficient attention on the nature and dimension of people smuggling in this region.

In a June 10, 2014 IOM Press statement, IOM Director General William Lacy Swing called for urgent international action and intensified cooperation following the arrival of over 5,470 migrants by boat in Sicily. Over 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers have now reached Italy from North Africa in 2014.

“The tragedy of migrants drowning at sea is unfortunately a global phenomenon, not just a Mediterranean emergency,” said Ambassador Swing. “For example, over 60 migrants coming from Somalia and Eritrea died a few days ago while trying to cross the Red Sea to Yemen.”

Current responses to mixed migration flows have merely caused a shift in smuggling routes and made them more dangerous for migrants rather than curbed demand for smugglers’ services and the overall flow of migration to Italy and the rest of Europe.

“The international community must develop a more comprehensive approach to protect migrants and uphold human dignity. No single action is enough to address the root causes of these mixed migration flows, but lives will be saved if action is taken now to help both migrants and countries during the entire length of the migratory route,” notes DG Swing.

To stem this tide of migration, IOM is engaged at addressing the current challenges by conducting public information campaigns to

raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration. IOM continues to provide migrants and potential migrants with information on the harsh realities of irregular migration, so they are better informed for making decisions on migration. Awareness-raising is conducted through media campaigns, distribution of posters/brochures, drama performances and workshops with village elders. IOM also provides direct assistance to stranded migrants through the provision of lifesaving services, including medical care and assisted voluntary return and reintegration.

In order to address the root drivers of irregular migration high level inter-regional dialogue is needed for countries to address the governance, security, and economic issues that push migrants abroad. IOM continues to support the Regional Committee on Mixed Migration which brings together government delegations from the Horn of Africa and Yemen on an annual basis to dialogue about enhanced management of migration. Additionally, in late 2013 IOM formed the North Africa and Horn of Africa Task Force (NOAH), based in Cairo, that is coordinating information and response between the regions for irregular migration.

Despite these efforts, much more is needed in terms of political commitment, donor support, and inter-regional dialogue to address the core causes leading to such substantial mixed migration flows.

IOM staff at the Migration Response Center in Obock, Djibouti, talks to migrants on the risks and dangers of irregular migration. ©IOM 2014 (Photo: Natalia McDonald) 5.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

FROM ETHNIC VIOLENCE TO SEEDS OF PEACE IOM Conducts Inter-Community Peace Building in Northwestern Kenya Northwestern Kenya has been a theatre of violent conflict pitting the Pokot, Samburu, and Turkana communities against one another in a fierce and deadly competition. This has been catalyzed by diminishing pasture and water resources, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, political incitement, disputes over land and ethnic boundaries, the absence of adequate state security, and the commercialization of cattle rustling.

There is a state of helplessness amongst the pastoralist households, which has led their youth to turn to violent means. Youths from these communities partake in cattle raids against neighbouring communities. Cattle raids have been attributed to factors such as lack of education, unemployment and the cultural obligation for young men to partake in the cattle raids. Acquiring cattle during such raids is a sure way of enhancing the young men’s status in society: the raided cattle can

be used to pay bride price during marriage and thus move the donor up the social ladder.

IOM has initiated peace building initiatives in an endeavor to end ethnic hostilities among warring communities. In May 2014, the two warring communities came together for the first installment of “Sports for Peace” initiative. The two communities jointly held football and volleyball matches to demonstrate peaceful co-existence.

The two youth teams from Pokot and Turkana Counties promised to preach peace along the disputed border of the two counties.

The initiative created a platform for dialogue amongst the youth in order for them to appreciate peaceful coexistence. IOM plans to continue the initiative in order to show solidarity for peace.

After the games, the youth not only reiterated

their commitment to live peacefully but declared their commitment to enhance trade among the two communities. The youth leaders also requested both the National and County government to repair and re-open the road linking the two communities to demonstrate their determination to enhance trade.

Shortly after this, IOM organized two peace dialogues in the month of June. The first meeting, conducted on 12 & 13 June, between Pokot and Turkana Kraal elders and women crusaders, to have Kraal elders, who are the pastoral community leaders at the grassroots level, to have dialogue towards coming up with common strategies and approaches towards sustainable peace. The meeting set off with the intention to ensure the grass root leadership has the common priorities on issues of continued insecurity.

Turkana and Pokot elders share and eat meat together after a night vigil at Lorengippi, Turkana County

The meeting was deemed to have been successful as Pokot and Turkana communities agreed to share their resources by opening up the market at Loya ( a similar idea to the youth proposal). Furthermore, the Pokot community agreed that they will be providing agricultural products while Turkana community will be selling their livestock at the market.

The second peace dialogue that commenced on 27 June, was an inter-community peace dialogue conducted in North Pokot. It aimed at strengthening the resolution to be more inclusive and have communities be more committed to the peace process. The meeting was attended by government officials, head of security agencies from Kenya and Uganda, Ugandan Army and Kenyan Military Defence

Forces Liaison Officers from Uganda and Deputy County Commissioner of Pokot North.

Turkana county peace ambassador was also in attendance, along with various UN & NGO agencies.

Kraal elders and women representatives from Pokot, Turkana and Tepeth were present as they discussed the challenges facing the peace processes in the region. They outlined the presence of small arms on the Kenyan side, radical youth, lack of infrastructure, displacement of communities as the factors impeding the peace process. They argued that both governments and other stakeholders need to involve the youth in such dialogues, as well as the need for such talks in other areas.

The peace ambassador, Hon. Emmanuel Imana from Turkana, informed communities of plans to replicate the dialogue process that has been implemented in Pokot, Turkana and Tepeth corridor which is transcending the triangle known as “triangle of death” to “triangle of peace.” The meeting emphasized the need for the government of Kenya to adopt disarmament across the region.

The meeting ended on a high note with stakeholders being appreciated for their support as well as collective agreement to form a working group to jumpstart the processes of the peace accord.

6.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

Rapid Increase in Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Minors in Kenya Human trafficking is one of the most tragic features of contemporary global migration and is a gross violation of human rights.

Kenya has been identified as a country of origin, transit and destination for victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is increasing rapidly in Kenya. Vulnerable people, primarily young girls, are being kidnapped, coerced, or sold into modern day slavery every day.

Increasing poverty levels has been identified as the driving factor. Families who are desperate for money often coerce their older children with promises of fair wages to support their family.

Internal trafficking occurs mainly for domestic labour and sexual exploitation.

International or cross-border trafficking- on the other hand- occurs for purposes of forced labour, domestic servitude, early marriages and sexual exploitation. Men, women and children are all victims of trafficking in Kenya.

Kenyan men, women, and children voluntarily migrate to other East African nations, South Sudan, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East – particularly Saudi Arabia, but also Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, and Oman – in search of employment. At times they are exploited in domestic servitude, massage parlours and brothels, or forced manual labour, including in the construction industry.

Due to the alarmingly high number of cases of human trafficking and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Kenya, IOM organized two workshops in the months of May and June, to create awareness among various stakeholders on the Counter Trafficking in Persons Act and the Sexual offences Act that came into force in 2010.

IOM’s aim was to form, a pool of experts that can advocate and increase awareness in Counter Trafficking and Sexual Offenses Act. The first training that kicked off on 26 May in Naivasha County, brought together prosecutors, police, children and gender officers from Turkana, Marsabit, Garissa and Uasin Gishu Counties. “The objective was to enhance the ability of law enforcement officials to promote social protection and legal services to victims of Sexual Gender Based Violence and human trafficking in Kenya. When they understand the intricacies of the vice, they are able to respond better,” said IOM’s Project Manager, Teranishi Etsuko.

The second workshop was conducted in Malindi on 23-24 June. Malindi was the ideal location to tackle the issue, as the coastline of Kenya has been identified as the hub of trafficking. There have been high cases of gender-based violence, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children at the Kenyan coast, especially during high tourism seasons.

The workshop focused on the Mombasa area coastline and the various ways in which tourists and other individuals go about paying to sexually abuse children.

The stake holders at this workshop were drawn from the police, NGO’s, Ministry of Health, Civil Society, and Tourism Regulatory Authority. They decried the alarmingly low number of investigations on the rampant practice of sexual exploitation of children by tourists on the Kenyan coast.

In Kenya, crime is highly prevalent, and local law enforcements are often more involved in lining their pockets as opposed to protecting citizens. As a result, officers chose to ignore crimes associated with sex trafficking. The stakeholders called for the prosecution of

government officials suspected of complicity in human trafficking.

Ruth Lewa, an officer from Solidarity with Women in Distress (SOLWODI) drew attention to commercial sex workers in Mombasa and their exposure to human trafficking. Ruth acknowledged that child sex tourism was increasingly rampant in Mombasa. “The issue of poverty draws numbers of individuals to child sex tourism whether they are driven here by their families or chose to venture into it on their own accord.” She not only pinpoints poverty as a factor, but lack of employment that aggravates the issue pushing individuals to resort to sexual exploitation.

The number of children involved in child sex tourism is alarmingly higher than it ever has been recorded in Mombasa. “The poverty in Mombasa and the rest of the country serves as the right incubator for thriving child sex tourism.” Says Esther Kasiva, a counsellor from Pahali Pa Usalama. “Children from poor family backgrounds are easy targets, with the promise for better life.” She outlined that the issue with child exploitation is the victims’ perception; they either deserve what is happening to them or it is the last resort.

Participants at both workshops were able to obtain a clear understanding on national laws and policies to address and punish all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including trafficking in persons, Sexual Offences, Female genital Mutilation (FGM/C), Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommendations and other laws in line with international human rights standards.

7.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

Evidence for Policy: IOM Conducts Research on Migration and Environment in Kenya

Members of the Kenya Technical Working Group met in Nairobi together with the Project Team from Geneva

Kenya is experiencing the effects of climate change which impact on human mobility. Pastoralists are increasingly on the move in search of pasture due to drought, while some areas are experiencing increased frequency of floods and rise in sea-level. In the face of new environmental challenges, people are displaced or voluntarily moving to diversify livelihoods and at times arriving in new areas where vulnerability to impacts of climate change may be higher. Reliable data and policy oriented research are in high demand to respond to the needs of policymakers.

Due to the foregoing, a three year project, funded by the European Commission and dubbed “Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Evidence for Policymaking (MECLEP)� has been rolled out in 6 case study countries around the world, including Kenya. The six countries have been chosen to illustrate how different forms of mobility may affect the environment and adaptation to climate change. More specifically, the research will provide evidence on how migration, displacement and planned relocation benefit or pose challenges for adaptation to environmental and climate change.

The project has set up technical working groups (TWG) consisting of policymakers in each of the six pilot countries. The first technical working group meeting in Kenya, chaired by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), took place at the end of May 2014. Members include policymakers from various ministries, agencies and research institutes, such as the Kenya Meteorological Service, the Department of Immigration Services, the African Migration and Development Policy Centre, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The first meeting confirmed the need and commitment of the group in addressing emerging environmental issues linked to human mobility.

As a next step of the project, the MECLEP team from IOM Geneva and one of the international research partner, University of Bielefeld in Germany, conducted a study tour to Nairobi at the end of July 2014. The study tour aimed at consulting the members of the technical working group and other key stakeholders on the policy priorities the research needs to address. A household survey will be conducted at the end of 2014 and findings will be published as a case study report, followed by a final comparative report covering the six pilot countries. An assessment of the existing knowledge and data on migration and environment in Kenya is underway and is expected to provide the basis for the research.

In addition to research outputs, the project will among other activities develop a training manual for policy makers on migration, environment and climate change; carry out a national policy consultation; and carry out a capacity building exercise for local researchers. Other innovative activities include map development, photo and video documentation and a global online information sharing platform.

Kenya continues to witness the effects of climate change. Northern Kenya has been greately affected and has received unprecedented influx of refugees from Somalia, equally affected by drought.

8.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

US Ambassador Tours IOM clinic at the Kakuma Refugee Camp …As Kenya Marks the World Refugee Day.

The United States Ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec on 20 June visited the IOM Clinic at the Kakuma Refugee Camp to see and interact with refugees undergoing health assessment before they are resettled to the United States.

Health assessments for refugees help to identify and address conditions of public health and public safety concern, and conditions impacting health and social services with the aim of informing migrants of their health conditions and needs, and to facilitate their integration into the United States. Health assessments also provide cost-effective public health interventions, improve refugee health, and limit the number of vaccinations refugees will need after they arrive in the United States.

Migration (BPRM). CDC and BPRM are co- the past years that have seen the day marked funding this project for approved refugee in Nairobi. applicants under the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

The United States accepts thousands of refugees from around the world as part of the USRAP. This year over 12,000 refugees from Sub Saharan Africa will be accepted and will start new lives in the United States.

The International Organization for Migration conducts medical assessments, makes flight bookings and assists refugees at the departure, transit and arrival points.

The ambassador’s visit coincided with the commemoration of the World Refugee Day which brought together hundreds of refugees and residents of Turkana County.

The United States Ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec offers a candy to a refugee child that had just received a vaccination at the IOM clinic in Kakuma. ©IOM 2013 (Photo: Jennifer Pro)

Ambassador Robert Godec reiterated his government’s support for IOM in its efforts to provide sustainable solutions for thousands of refugees.

Speaking during the event, Haron Komen, Kenya’s acting Commissioner for Refugee Affairs acknowledged efforts by humanitarian agencies specializing in refugee affairs for providing durable solutions such as Health assessment for refugees is resettlement to third countries. implemented in partnership with the Division of Global Migration at the Centre for Diseases The 2014 commemoration of the World Control (CDC) and the U.S Department of Refugee Day in Kenya was marked at the State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Kakuma Refugee Camp, a big departure from

Japan Backs IOM Community Stabilization Project in Northern Kenya Turkana County is currently grappling with drought and an influx of refugees from South Sudan. The targeted counties have also had to contend with severe flooding, landslides and recurrent inter-communal conflicts.

Japanese Ambassador to Kenya H.E Tatsushi Terada is welcomed to Lodwar by Turkana traditional dancers, at a market constructed by IOM, with support from the people of Japan

IOM has received USD 1 million from Japan to support a project that aims to enhance community stabilization for mobile populations and communities that host them in Northern Kenya.

The project was launched by Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Tatsushi Terada and will be implemented in close cooperation with the local (county) governments of Turkana, Marsabit, Uasin Gishu and Garissa.

About 30 per cent of people in the region are dependent on food aid in the course of a normal year, and conflict and sudden changes in the environment can have an immediate and devastating effect on their lives and livelihoods.

This project will contribute towards building the resilience of vulnerable mobile communities through improved human security. This will be achieved by addressing their shelter needs and improving small-scale infrastructure, such as livestock markets and water treatment systems, to support their livelihood activities.

“Kenya’s government is tackling inequality and poverty through (its) Kenya Vision 2030 (development blueprint). This project will support that effort by improving the resilience of pastoralists affected by natural disasters and conflicts, and providing emergency aid to improve human security. It will offer practical, appropriate and affordable help, but will also give local communities the knowledge that they need to improve their lives by themselves,” he said.

The project will also emphasize the importance of peace and livelihood creation opportunities with the aim to reduce resource-based conflict. There will also be a focus on the special needs of women and young people.

Japan has funded IOM projects to enhance peace-building and livelihood opportunities for migrants and host communities affected Speaking at the launch, Ambassador by natural and man-made disasters in Kenya Terada underscored the need to improve since 2009. the livelihoods of women and youth in the region.

9.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

TEACHERS TRAINING TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

Teachers from Uasin Gishu county follow proceedings at a workshop in Eldoret

Gender-based violence is the most pervasive yet socially tolerated of all human rights violations, and something that is experienced by women and girls on a global scale every day. Whilst the horrific 2007 Kenya postelection violence of this period was under the media spotlight, what was not in the headlines was the prevalence of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) during this time. As in most conflicts, Kenyan women and girls suffered increased incidences of sexual violence during in the 2007/8 postelection violence.

It has occurred not only as a by-product of the collapse of social order in Kenya brought on by the post-election conflicts, but it has also been used as a tool to terrorize families and individuals and precipitate their expulsion from the communities in which they live.

In too many settings, survivors have no access to even the most minimal health and psychosocial support, leaving them vulnerable to a wide spectrum of potential negative health outcomes, including HIV/ AIDS. The Centre for Assault and Recovery of Eldoret (CARE) was born as a result. It was established in 2007 in conjunction with other partners to cater for survivors of SGBV. Its objective is to provide a safe, kind and

respectful environment for the diagnosis, everyone can be a survivor both for boys and treatment and prevention of SGBV. To date, girls, men and women” Dr. Arwasa Deputy over 2000 cases has been attended to.

Director and Head of Clinical service, who was in attendance, stated in his opening IOM and CARE jointly organized one-day remarks. He urged participants to share the training on SGBV in Eldoret. The training knowledge acquired it from the training to took place on 11 June 2014, 21 teachers make a difference in our community and the from primary and secondary schools in Uasin whole nation.

Gishu County participated.

“The best place to start is by us then is the The training was aimed at enhancing capacity teachers by teaching the children on what to of school teachers on prevention of SGBV do. The teachers mold all of us and take the and human trafficking. The teachers were training very seriously, urged organizations able to obtain the basic concept on SGBV to go beyond Uasin Gishu County. If we do and human trafficking including definition, it nicely, the other counties can benchmark forms, causes and consequences. In addition, with us and also learn”. Dr. Arwasa. the training covered the management of survivors and the Sexual Offenses Act and IOM and CARE jointly developed a brochure Human Trafficking Act. both in English and Swahili to disseminate information on available services at the CARE Kenya’s 2010 constitution has many center and hotline. This will be distributed progressive elements, and legislators have through schools and local communities. proposed or approved numerous laws, which, if correctly implemented, would This training is part of IOM’s efforts to make significant contributions to ending the strengthen the provision of protection climate of impunity for sexual violence in services to vulnerable groups in Kenya, with Kenya. funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

“SGBV is pandemic and worse because the cases are often go unreported… and the perpetrators are the people we know…

10. IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

AUSCO Programme in Kenya Grows in Leaps and Bounds in the Past Decade.

Australia bound refugees go thorugh a cultural orientation class at the IOM Transit Centre in Nairobi, Kenya

It is now 11 years, since the Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) began and during this time, IOM Kenya has trained 9,960 refugees and humanitarian visa holders who are preparing to settle in Australia.

also informs refugees and humanitarian entrants what social welfare service is available to them. The course is tailored for delivery to four separate groups; adults, youth, children and pre-literate people.

The highly successful AUSCO programme is provided to refugee and humanitarian visa holders who are preparing to settle in Australia. The programme provides practical advice and the opportunity to ask questions about travel to and life in Australia and is delivered to refugee and humanitarian entrants before they begin their journey to Australia.

“For youth we specifically focus on managing their expectations, which sometimes are quite unrealistic. Sessions are delivered in the language of the refugees and where trainer they do not speak the same language as refugees a qualified interpreter is engaged. The sessions are very interactive and dynamic and a variety of teaching resources including audio-visuals are used. Teaching methodologies are learner-centered and vary according to the profile of groups being trained.” said Issack Adan, IOM’s cultural orientation officer.

In Africa, the training is held in different locations in the East, Central, and Southern Africa region that include Kakuma, Dadaab and Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, and Asmara and Umkulu Refugee Camps in Eritrea. Others sites include Kibondo and Kigoma in Tanzania, Dzaleke Refugee Camp in Malawi, Lusaka in Zambia, Harare in Zimbabwe, Dukwi in Botswana, AbuRaqam and Khartoum in Sudan, Kibuye and Byumba in Rwanda, Maratane in Mozambique and Brazzaville in Congo.

The programme is designed to provide general information about Australia, that assists the refugees in initial settlement and seeks to dispel refugee and humanitarians entrants misconceptions and unrealistic expectations of the culture and society they are about to join. The programme further provides accurate information about Australia and

Overall since 2003, the AUSCO programme has conducted 533 courses in 13 African countries in 19 different locations.

In addition, when necessary there are family day sessions for all family members.

The curriculum is designed to give participants confidence and build their independence towards starting their new lives in Australia. It is also an opportunity for them to meet others making the same journey.

settling in including on- arrival assistance, an overview of Australia including government, geography, climate, cultural adjustment including communication and behaviour.

Other topics covered include health care including Medicare, hospitals, immunization, and preventative health, education including learning English, school, tertiary and community education, finding a job including Centrelink, job networks, recognition of oversea s qualification and experience and Australian working conditions among others.

AUSCO Trainers utilize a variety of teaching methods throughout the course that is tailored to the participants’ background and involves assessing background of participants and deciding on relevant teaching method. Participants are also engaged through role-plays, demonstrations, group discussions, games and question and answer with the help of various visual aids.

The beneficiaries are also handed AUSCO hand book in various languages for both Adult and youth, DVD’s on the country, border security, raising children and others.

Some of the topics covered include travel to Australia including arrangements at the airport, the flight, transit and arrival, 11.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

IOM Kenya Facilitates Study Tours on Diaspora Engagement As the East Africa Community (EAC) embraces the implementation of the Common Market Protocol, Immigration Officials in the region are seeking to build their capacities on border management and diaspora engagement, to harness contributions by the diaspora and for effective integration within the East Africa Community.

IOM Kenya in collaboration with IOM Rome through the AMEDIP Project are facilitating exchange visits to enhance the institutional capacities of national authorities charged with migration and development to better harness the contributions of their diaspora communities.

These activities are part of a project implemented by IOM Rome under the Strengthening African and Middle Eastern Diaspora Policy project (AMEDIP) that seeks to strengthen the governments capacity in diaspora engagement.

In April 2014, officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Directorate of Diaspora & Consular Affairs and an officer from the same ministry on information and technology visited Lebanon to learn about web portals and content management.

They learnt from their counterparts on how to develop diaspora skills inventory and how to use diaspora skills to bridge the

skills gaps in the country.

The visit was key for the Immigration officers, given the government’s initiatives to harness the potential of the diaspora with a goal to mainstream the diaspora into the National Development agenda whilst addressing their needs and expectations in a mutually beneficial relationship. This was seen as a challenge to the government since they did not have a diaspora database which is viewed as crucial. The outcome of this interaction has since seen the General Directorate develop a comprehensive web portal.

In a similar exchange programme funded

by AMEDIP, officials from the same ministry embarked on a week-long tour in Cape Verde (22 – 27 June 2014) to learn crucial lessons on how to establish an interinstitutional structure to manage migration and development issues in relation to the diaspora. The Ministry officials brought back knowledge on inter-institutional programme development structures, legal and administrative provision for establishing inter-institutional structures, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the programmes performance within the inter-institutional structures.

Affairs will extend the lessons learned towards building the capacity of fellow officials in the ministry towards an effective engagement with the Kenyan diaspora in national development.

Meanwhile, between 2-5 June, Kenya also hosted a delegation from the Ugandan Government who wanted to learn about Kenya’s labour management, and to enhance cooperation among the EAC partner states to effectively manage the south-south labour migration. Kenya has an elaborate Labour Migration Policy, whose development was supported by IOM Kenya, and which the Government of Uganda wanted to learn from. The delegation from Uganda were happy to note the practice by the Kenya Association of Private Employment Agencies (KAPEA) in meeting the minimum labour export standards.

They were also happy to learn the existence of a monitoring mechanism of KAPEA by the Ministry of Labour.

Strengthening of AMEDIP through SouthSouth Exchange (AMEDIP) is a project cofunded by Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy and France, and implemented by IOM Rome.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects that the Directorate of Diaspora and Consular 12.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

IOM Hands Over Project to the Country Government of Garissa, Kenya persistent conflict among women traders, who struggled over a small milk shed. The new milk distribution hub accommodates 200 female milk distributors and serves the entire population of Garissa township of approximately 400,000 people, per day.

Women from Garissa Town are the biggest beneficiries of the Milk Market constructed by IOM.

The International Organization for Migration has handed over to the county government of Garissa a one year programme that has assisted youth and women to establish livelihood activities in Garissa County.

Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the project has seen IOM reach out to over 3,000 direct beneficiaries and the most in need community members from the County.

Over 200 women from a Garissa based women groups are set to benefit from a milk distribution market that has been constructed by IOM. The milk market was set up on request by the Garissa District Peace Committee, to help wade off the

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Deputy Governor of Garissa County, H.E Abdulahi Hussein thanked IOM and the donor for the support, adding that it was a great contribution to the livelihoods of the women of Garissa.

“We had a small milk shed and women were fighting over the small space. I am happy that his market has been constructed within the Garissa Municipal market. It will increase the volume of their output and the additional space is extremely helpful.

The county government will ensure the sustainability of this market.” Said the Deputy Governor.

Several youth groups have also benefited from business startup equipment and are already well on their way to establishing livelihoods for themselves.

“This county is plagued by resource based conflict and idle youth are vulnerable to

bad influence from militia groups. Not many organizations here support the youth directly and this is why IOM’s support means so much to us. If is better if we rely on our hardwork.” Says Abdulrahman Maulid Samaan, the chairman of the Amaan B, Garissa Youth Group.

A clinic that supports victims of Gender Based Violence has also received SGBV kits in support of women who have survived gender based violence. Speculum, test kits The SIDA funded livelihood initiatives are linked to peace and will improve the livelihoods of pastoralist’s communities in Garissa County which is one the most affected by severe flooding, recurrent droughts and inter-communal conflicts.

The project whose implementation took one year has also helped to build the capacity of health practitioners on issues of Sexual and Gender Based Violence. Law enforcement agents who include the Garissa Public Prosecutor, judges, police and district children officers were trained on the sexual offences and CT act. Youth groups were also received vocational training on tailoring and computer training.

IOM Advocates for a More Effective Communication Mechanism in Emergency Settings in Kenya With frequent man-made and natural emergencies gripping Kenya and the Horn of Africa region, IOM has stressed the importance of dissemination of life saving communication messages by humanitarian actors in a bid to save lives of vulnerable migrants.

Weak health systems in the very porous Kenya border areas remain a serious public health problem, as evidenced by outbreaks of cholera and vaccine-preventable diseases, including sporadic re-emergence of polio and reccurent outbreaks of measles in the past few years.

The Horn of Africa, composed of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, suffers frequent natural disasters that commonly result in losses of life, destruction of infrastructure, and reduction of agricultural production. The region is home to thousands of displaced persons who have been forced to migrate from their homes due to various factors chief among them conflict and drought.

“Despite these challenges, IOM is still committed to solidifying the current partnerships as well as forging new partnerships to address emergency issues in Kenya, including supporting the government in migration management in Kenya and the region,” said Mr. El Nour.

While addressing an emergency communication workshop on Health in crisis settings, organized between 3-4 July, IOM Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa, Ashraf El Nour noted effective communication plays a vital role in the planning, response and recovery of humanitarian emergency activities.

such as diarrhoea and cholera.

The workshop that brought together key UN agencies, Kenya Red Cross and implementing partners agreed to formulate a national emergency communication plan and enhance the capacity of the Emergency Communications Center among other recommendations.

He reiterated IOM’s commitment in addressing myriads of challenges facing migrants within the Horn of Africa region in light of weak and/or broken health systems in case of emergencies.

As part of communicating during emergencies, IOM through the Japan funded programme in Kakuma and Daadab, has developed and distributed IEC materials on the prevention and control of diseases

IOM Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa, Ashraf El Nour, addresses participants at the event.

13.| IOM Kenya Newsletter July 2014

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