Thousands of displaced persons from drought-affected
South-Central Somalia also reside in makeshift camps scattered
across the region.
Migrants and displaced persons are amongst the poorest and
most vulnerable in Bossaso. Arriving empty-handed and living in
extreme poverty, they have limited access to water, food and health
care.
Over the last two months, IOM has provided over 300 migrants
and the displaced persons in Bossaso with fishing equipment
and fishery skills training. The programme aimed to enable the
beneficiaries to develop sustainable livelihood
opportunities. In Garowe, the capital of Puntland region, 600
migrants, the displaced and host community women will also
benefit from the newly refurbished Central Garowe Market supported
by IOM.
In the health sector, IOM and local partners are sensitizing vulnerable populations on HIV and sexual and gender-based violence with 301 peer educators trained across Somalia in 2011. Funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, IOM is also providing micro-finance training and peer support groups for HIV positive persons in Somalia.
But the needs are still immense. Hussein Hassan, IOM’s health
coordinator in Somalia states: “The need is vast; psychosocial
support, clean water, shelter and a comprehensive migrant-friendly
health care package must be offered for the most
vulnerable."
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supports a centre established jointly by IOM and the authorities to register new migrants, provide referrals and to offer a space for advocacy and migrant rights awareness.
The centre which is called, Bossaso Migration Response Centre,
is funded by the Government of Japan, the Government of Switzerland
and the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Population,
Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
Two additional Migration Response Centres are operational in
Hargeisa, Somaliland and Obock, in Djibouti.
To see a slide show of the story, please visit: http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/media/photo-stories/lang/en
For more information please contact Celeste Hibbert, IOM
Kenya, Tel: +254
