SOMALIA
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been operational in Somalia since 2006. The region, due to its unstable political situation, has had a vast number of its population migrating to other countries. It continues to be characterized by intense migration flows with irregular migration constituting a major challenge. Issues One of the main migration challenges in the Horn of Africa is the fact that thousands of migrants continue to attempt to migrate to Yemen and beyond from Ethiopia and Somalia for both economic and security related reasons putting their lives in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers. In addition, Somalia’s 3,300km coastline is one of the
longest in Africa and considered one of the world’s most dangerous stretches of water because of piracy. Piracy and smuggling in Somalia are a lucrative, multifaceted business, centred on drugs, weapons, and other contraband goods, as well as human smuggling across the Gulf of Aden or further south. Through its holistic programmes and projects in Somaliland, Puntland and in South Central Somalia, IOM aims to decrease the pressure created by these migration flows by raising awareness among potential migrants; improving livelihood opportunities in the areas of origin and transit; enhancing the governments border management capacities; institutional capacity building through Somali diaspora skills transfer; and providing direct emergency assistance for vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking.
Somalia’s main migration issues fall under the following categories: Action IOM in Somalia closely works with the Federal Government of Somalia, regional authorities, the UN, donor governments and civil society. IOM implements the following types of projects in Somalia:
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Forced migration: due to
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Irregular migration: due to
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Mixed migration: the use of
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Traditional and cross-border migration: linked to nomadic
Migration and development Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) is a capacity- building programme, which transfers skills from African diaspora experts back to Africa. MIDA programmes in Somalia aim to build the capacity of Somali institutions through Somali diaspora skills transfer.
conflicts and natural disasters resulting in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee outflows. poverty and limited livelihood options often resulting in victims being trafficked and smuggled. one migration route by several different groups of migrants including asylum seekers, economic migrants, victims of trafficking and smuggling.
cross border movement. It is mainly a survival strategy such as pastoralists looking for pasture and cross-border trade abroad and within the region.
MIDA Somalia is currently running four projects working with all three Somali regional authorities. To date, the programme has placed or is in process of placing 83 Somali experts throughout the three regions at various ministries and institutions Transition Initiatives for Stabilization TIS aims to build confidence in government institutions by improving services for the Somalia people. TIS forges collaborative partnerships and creates a space for interaction between government institutions, the private sector, and civil society. Quick-impact grants are chosen by the government in collaboration with community representatives. Livelihoods IOM aims to contribute to community stabilization, improve living conditions and reduce malnutrition caused by food insecurity through livelihoods and light infrastructure projects for both migrant and host communities. Projects include: vocational training; conditional cash transfer and income generating activities in urban locations with a strong gender balance; environmentally sensitive livelihood initiatives such as nursery and cattle watering point rehabilitation as well as fishery and light infrastructure
projects in isolated coastal communities that receive little donor attention. Capacity Building in Migration Management The porous nature of Somalia’s borders has greatly contributed to the insecurity of the country and its neighbours. The lack of migration and border management capacity has negative impacts on the protection environment experienced by migrants as well as asylum-seekers. In response to requests for assistance by local authorities in Somalia, IOM developed the Capacity-building in Migration Management programme, to enhance migration management and protection capacities of immigration authorities. IOM is refurbishing and rehabilitating both air and sea ports-of-entry as well as land border crossing points. IOM also provides training in migration management. Counter Human Trafficking In the past three years IOM has been able to collect information providing initial evidence that human trafficking occurs in many parts of Somalia. In 2009, IOM initiated the first counter trafficking programme in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia, which generated much interest and support from regional authorities and civil society.
Within camps for internally displaced persons (IDP), IOM Somalia’s Migration Health Division (MHD) is reaching out to IDP women representatives to train them on basic psycho-social support, peer education, gender-based violence (GBV) and its impact on survivors, coping mechanisms in the IDP camps, and sensitization about places where GBV support services are offered. © IOM 2012 (Photo: Mary-Sanyu Osire)
IOM is providing direct emergency assistance to victims of trafficking. IOM also implements awareness-raising activities which have led to the formation of counter trafficking task forces within regional authorities. Migration Health IOM’s health programme in Somalia includes: communitybased HIV prevention and stigma reduction; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); primary health care services; and prevention, treatment, care and support for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) including rape
“IOM Somalia is a member of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and also works closely with several Ministries in the various regions of Somalia in the implementation of its programmes. IOM partners with several UN agencies and local NGOs that are working in Somalia.” MIGRATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL International Organization for Migration (IOM) Somalia Mission Gitanga Groove – off Gitanga Road, Lavington PO Box 1810 – 00606, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 292 6000 Email: iomsomalia@iom.int www.iom.int
MARCH 2013
and female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C). Through a participatory process involving key stakeholders, Migration Health Division (MHD) targets most vulnerable migrant and mobile populations, and their affected communities in all three regions of the country including newly liberated areas such as Afgooye. MHD also utilizes innovative technology and ideas such as Poly-Glu, water flocculent technology invented in Japan, and links with the local private sectors to make the intervention more sustainable.
WE WORK WITH: • Government • Somali diaspora • Civil society • Private sector
WITH THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS: