Tuesday 14 October 2003

Press Briefing Notes
Tuesday 14 October 2003
Spokesperson: Christopher Lom

1. LIBERIA-Evacuation of Ivorian Nationals
2. FINLAND - Working Visit of Deputy Director General
3. NETHERLANDS - Voluntary Return Project
4. ITALY - Balkan and Mediterranean Training Program
5. SPAIN - Colombian Migration in Spain

LIBERIA-Evacuation of Ivorian Nationals - On Sunday IOM evacuated by air a first group of 57 Ivorian nationals who had fled western Côte d'Ivoire last year to find refuge in neighbouring Liberia.

The group, which included a small number of Liberian nationals married to Ivorian nationals, fled the strife-ridden regions of Danane and Tabou last November to find refuge in the region of Zwedru, in North Eastern Liberia. From there, they travelled across rebel lines to the Liberian capital Monrovia, where they remained stranded.

All are part of a wider group of 139 at-risk Ivorians who have been registered by IOM and Ivorian embassy staff in and around Monrovia.

The group was taken from the Ivorian Consulate in Monrovia to Roberts International Airport where they boarded an IOM charter flight. IOM medical staff conducted pre-embarkation fitness for travel checks, and provided yellow fever vaccination and treatment for minor ailments. An IOM medical escort accompanied the returnees on their journey home.

On arrival, they were met by IOM officials and representatives of the Ivorian government and taken to a government-run transit centre in the district of Adjame, north of the economic capital, Abidjan.

The operation was carried out at the request of the Ivorian authorities and in co-ordination with the Liberian authorities, UNHCR, WHO and UNICEF. A second airlift is scheduled for Sunday 19 October with 85 passengers on two flights.

For more information, please contact Ferran Garcia, IOM Monrovia, Tel. +377 47 52 73 18.

FINLAND - Working Visit of Deputy Director General - IOM Deputy Director General Ndioro Ndiaye arrived in Helsinki, Finland on Sunday to start a six-day visit to Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

During her visit, Mrs Ndiaye will discuss a wide range of migration management related issues, including migration and development, the plight of migrant women and issues related to the integration of migrants into host countries, IOM cultural orientation programmes, assisted voluntary return and counter-trafficking. Mrs. Ndiaye's agenda covers major migration challenges faced by the three countries served by IOM's Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic States in Helsinki.

"Nordic Countries are faced with increasing number of migration challenges and can count on IOM to offer solutions and enhance the positive aspects of international migration. We are ready to help in implementing projects stemming trafficking in migrants, and irregular migration at large, and maximizing the integration of immigrant populations," she said, after meeting with Heads of Departments at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Today she is meeting with Finnish Minister of Labour Ms. Tarja Filatov. Tomorrow Mrs. Ndiaye will meet with African Ambassadors to Sweden, to discuss IOM's Migration for Development of Africa (MIDA) programme, linkages between countries of origin and destination, and the options for the African diaspora to contribute to reconstruction and development in Africa.

For further information, contact: Elina Kostiainen, IOM Helsinki, Tel. 358.9.68411522.
Email: ekostiainen@iom.int

NETHERLANDS - ERF Backs Dutch City Voluntary Return Scheme - The European Refugee Fund is to finance an IOM project that will facilitate the voluntary return of impoverished rejected asylum seekers in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht - the so-called "Randstad."

The Randstad initiative will start by facilitating the voluntary return of rejected asylum seekers from Russian-speaking and other countries by offering easy access to confidential counselling by native-language speaking social workers working out of the same location as IOM.

IOM will implement the project in close cooperation with NGOs specializing in supporting homeless people in big cities, including the Diaconal Centre Pauluskerk in Rotterdam. Pauluskerk, which provides shelter and helps people in dire situations, partnered IOM in a previous project in 2002/2003.

Research has shown that a relatively large number of homeless people in large Dutch cities are rejected asylum seekers in need of return- related support and counselling.

For more information, please contact Tricia Robbins, IOM The Hague, Tel: +31.70.31 81 536.
Email: trobbins@iom.int

ITALY - Balkan and Mediterranean Training Programme - A three-week training programme "Immigration and Labour Policies" offered by IOM Rome in the framework of the Network of Local and National Administrations of the Balkan and Mediterranean countries (Ne.Ba.Me) ended this weekend.

The programme, mainly for government officials, addressed topics including Labour Migration, Italian and EU legislation on migration issues, Migration and Development, Human Rights of Migrants.

Some 15 students, mainly government officials, from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Syria and Tunisia, attended.

Three of the participants - representing Egypt, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Tunisia - will go on to complete complete a two-month internship with IOM Rome in the areas of Labour Migration, the DIS (Decentralised Intervention System -IOM/ANCI) and MIGRA (the online Immigrants Information Agency-EQUAL).

For further information please contact IOM Rome Press Office, Tel. +39 06 44 186 223. Mobile.+39 338 95 36 855. Email: iomromepress@iom.int <mailto:iomromepress@iom.int>

SPAIN - Colombian Migration in Spain - A new study on Colombian migration to Spain reveals that in the past three years the number of Colombians arriving in Spain has increased more than any other migrant group arriving in the country.

The study focuses on the number of Colombian migrants in Spain and where they live, the main reasons for migrating, and their living conditions in Spain.

According to Spanish Government figures in 1993 there were 7,207 Colombians residing in Spain, and in 2002 the number reached 81,709.

The results of the study are based on interviews conducted with 1,100 Colombian migrants living in Alicante, Barcelona, Las Palmas and Madrid - cities with the largest numbers of Colombian migrants.

A total of 40.4% (576 persons) of those interviewed cited economic reasons for migrating. Twenty per cent (286 persons) said they had left Colombia because of the on going violence and insecurity, and 13.6 % (194 persons) made the move in search of increased economic opportunities and a better future for their families.

When asked about their expectations when arriving in Spain and for the future, 42.2% (487 persons) said they wanted to work, save money and eventually return tot heir country, 44.5% (513 persons) confirmed their intentions of bringing their family and settling in Spain.

Fifty percent of the migrants interviewed were in Spain without proper documentation. Some 63% are between 25 and 44 years old, with 60% females.

The study also points to the fact that Colombian migrants in Spain suffer from a distorted image, mainly due to media reports linking them with petty crime and drug trafficking. The study sets out to dispel this false image and to tell the real story of this migrant group.

The study was commissioned by the Colombian Embassy in Spain and carried out by La Universidad Pontificia de Comillas and La Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. The study was published by IOM and the United Nations.

Copies of the report, which is only available in Spanish, can be downloaded from the IOM website.