MoWSA Minister: EU-IOM initiative pivotal in saving lives, providing protection to vulnerable Ethiopian migrants

Addis Ababa, April 25, 2023 (FBC) – The EU-IOM joint initiative for migrant protection and reintegration in the Horn of Africa has played a very important role in saving lives, providing protection and assistance to vulnerable Ethiopian migrants, Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Ergogie Tesfaye said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia and with funding from the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF), has been implementing the “EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in the Horn of Africa” since 2017.

In addition, with the 31 community based projects at hand, more than 410,000 direct people have benefitted from community projects that foster the inclusion of communities of origin in reintegrating migrant returnees.

At the closing EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in the Horn of Africa-Ethiopia Program, Minister Women and Social Affairs, Ergogie Tesfaye said the joint initiative have benefitted many migrants, ENA reports.

“We have made tremendous achievement in providing a comprehensive, integrated and holistic protection and reintegration assistance to vulnerable returnees including economic, social psychological support,” she stated.

Furthermore, the minister elaborated we were able to engage communities affected by irregular migration to identify and address key drivers of migration.

Chief of Mission of IOM Abibatou Wane said on her part the programme aims at facilitating an orderly, safe regular and responsible migration management through the development and implementation of rights-based, development-focused, and sustainable return and reintegration practices and processes.

During the five years of programme implementation, the EU-IOM Joint Initiative assisted over 10,000 vulnerable Ethiopian returnees with post-arrival assistance and need-based economic, social, and psychosocial reintegration assistance.

Programme Officer of EU Delegation to Ethiopia, Angelo Di-Giorgi said this action has been a flagship initiative for the European Union since its launch back in transmissivity.

“We are currently finalizing negotiations and we plan to launch a new program that is supposed to follow up on the joint initiative,” he added.