US Backs IOM Efforts to Address Needs of Migrants in Zimbabwe

GENEVA, Switzerland - IOM Zimbabwe has received US$ 750,000 from the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to assist in responding to humanitarian and protection needs of migrants in Zimbabwe.

The U.S. support will target forcibly returned migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Zimbabwe, including unaccompanied minors and displacement affected communities, by facilitating the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to them.

The money will also go towards facilitating long term durable solutions, community-based disaster risk reduction in high risk areas, capacity building on cross border mobility and provision of humanitarian assistance to forcibly returned migrants.

Specific activities to be implemented include conducting rapid assessments, provision of emergency assistance such as food and non-food items, temporary shelter, establishing referral systems for effective coordination of assistance to the beneficiaries and the provision of technical assistance to local authorities and communities.

Capacity building activities on humane border management will include provision of technical assistance to Government on managing cross border mobility, provision of temporary shelter, emergency health care and counselling, pre and post family reunification and referral services for unaccompanied minors among others.

Whilst important steps have been made towards addressing the long term needs of migrants in Zimbabwe, a significant number of highly vulnerable groups continue to require humanitarian aid and protection assistance.

The funding will further strengthen on-going technical cooperation between IOM and the Government of Zimbabwe on migration management.