IOM Tanzania has orchestrated the voluntary return of at least 220 Ethiopian irregular migrants

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Tanzania has orchestrated the voluntary return of at least 220 Ethiopian irregular migrants this year alone.

IOM made the announcement over the weekend at a three day migration dialogue conference held in Stone Town, Zanzibar.
Speaking at the opening of the event, IOM Tanzania Chief of Events, Damien Thuriaux emphasised that migrants have the same human rights as everyone else.

“They should not go through situations in which their lives are threatened… the root causes of migration in the Horn of South Africa ought to be addressed by the governments concerned…they must develop sustainable solutions to this migration crisis,” Thuriaux urged.

In his presentation, IOM’s Head of Migrant Assistance Division in Geneva, Switzerland, Laurence Hart explained that the organisation, through its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, provides logistical and financial support to migrants who are unable or unwilling to remain in their host countries and who volunteer to return to their countries of origin or opt to relocate to another country.

He said the AVRR programme ensures respect for human rights, takes into account migrant’s decisions and puts into consideration vulnerabilities faced by trafficked victims and abused migrants.
“The assistance is not extended to known migrant smugglers and traffickers as well as migrant criminals serving prison sentences in the host countries,” he clarified.

He mentioned challenges facing the programme especially in relocating children include inadequacy of legal guardianship systems in many countries as well as the fact that unaccompanied migrant children are being detained countries.

Conducted through IOM’s ‘Voluntary Return Assistance to Migrants in Tanzania’ project, the Japanese funded initiative focuses on protecting the human rights of migrants.

The project aims to facilitate the voluntary return of some 800 Ethiopian irregular migrants currently leaving in Tanzania by the end of this year.