The IOM Moscow Times International Organization for Migration Moscow, Russia

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1 The IOM Moscow Times International Organization for Migration Moscow, Russia Issue 5, January , 2-aya Zvenigorodskaya, , Moscow Tel 7 (095) Fax 7 (095) iommoscow@iom.int, INSIDE THE ISSUE: IOM Moscow to Launch Counter Trafficking Project in Russia The Experience of Adopting the EMM for the EECA Region. Training Course in Russia EMM Training in the FMS Center in Bolshevo Trafficking Assessment and Counter- Trafficking Capacity Building Project (Kaliningrad, Russia) IOM Moscow Participation at the International Disaster Psychiatry Conference IOM Moscow Migration Research Programme (MMRP) Poland Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration of Unsuccessful Asylum Seekers Programme Moscow Migrant Processing and Movement IOM Medical Unit Informs Tamiflu Procurement as a Part of IOM Russian Federation Contingency Plan for an Influenza Pandemic IOM Moscow and Krasnodar Offices Prevention component, involving measures ranging from awareness-raising among the risk groups to strengthening the capacities of the law enforcement bodies; and a Reintegration component, seeking to assist the victims in their rehabilitation and reintegration. Under the Project, IOM will establish in Moscow a Rehabilitation Center for victims of trafficking, the first facility in the city to provide diversified and professional assistance to victims from Russia as well as CIS. The Project was prepared by IOM Moscow under the guidance of the EC Delegation and in close consultation with the relevant governmental partners and practitioners, including the Inter-Agency Working Group of the Legislative Committee of the State Duma, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health and Social Development, and others. The total funding for the Project is Euro 4,444,444. While funding support is still being sought from other interested donors, the key contribution has already been committed by the European Commission. THE EXPERIENCE OF ADOPTING THE EMM FOR THE EECA REGION. TRAINING COURSE IN RUSSIA On October 11, 2005 IOM Director General Mr. Brunson McKinley met Director of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation Mr.Konstantin Romodanovskiy, at IOM HQ in Geneva. One of the issues discussed was a unique resource and training tool Essentials for Migration Management (EMM) that was developed by IOM. IOM MOSCOW TO LAUNCH COUNTER TRAFFICKING PROJECT IN RUSSIA On December 26, 2005 IOM Moscow signed an Agreement with the Delegation of the European Commission to Russia, which contracted IOM Moscow to implement a Project titled Prevention of Human Trafficking in Russia. The Project, which is scheduled to begin as of March 1, 2006, will continue for 30 months and will involve three groups of interventions to address the main gaps in combating trafficking from, into and through the Russian Federation. Specifically, these groups include a Policy Advice component, aiming to improve the legislative framework and national policies regarding human trafficking; a Essentials for Migration Management (EMM) The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 1

2 The DG highlighted that EMM manual was the result of contributions from a large number of the migration experts from all parts of the world and introduced the EMM Manual to the Russian delegation as a new learning tool, written in a non-technical manner, which provides an interactive framework of reference and instruction on contemporary migration dynamics, policies and terms. Designed as a curriculum and based on 32 individual training modules, the EMM aims to provide a toolkit for policy makers and practitioners who face the challenge of improving the capacity of their country to manage migration. The EMM reviews the current concepts and approaches to these issues within the global community. Designed to help the user to apply these concepts to their particular context, it is also guides users in identifying which of the various policy options or operational practices are appropriate to the needs and capacity of each country. The DG presented the structure of the EMM Manual: complete course begins with foundations in Volume One, develops policy ideas using this foundation in Volume Two and studies management practices and options at a more operational level in Volume Three. In this respect the DG commented that EMM is a perfect tool to use to strengthen and complement the work that IOM and others have done globally and put forward a proposal to adopt the EMM Manual for the EECA area and particularly for the needs and realities of Russia. Mr.Romodanovskiy expressed his interest and said that he would like to get acquainted with the essentials in migration management, particularly with the training materials related to international migration law, development of migration legislation, international cooperation, migration and security, passport and visa systems, immigration systems, migration and citizenship. The idea to organize the first training in EMM in Russia was discussed and welcomed by Mr.Romodanovskiy. He invited the IOM experts (IOM HQ, TCC Vienna and IOM Moscow) to organize training courses for FMS officials as well as a training of trainers course in Moscow. The migration officials agreed that the Course Manual could also help the experienced practitioners and policymakers to further develop their approaches and to consider other models in cases where the existing policies are found to be no longer effective. The possibility and the format of the EMM training was also discussed during the meeting of IOM Moscow Chief of mission Mark Getchell with Mr. Konstantin Romodanovskiy. Mr.Romodanovskiy said that the need for migration management training was very great in Russia, not least in training new people and instilling a nonmilitary, non-traditional-ministry-of-interior mind-set and providing a deeper understanding of human rights issues and legislation. The migration officials agreed to organize the first round of the EMM training sessions for high- and mid-level federal and regional migration officials, representing the central office and some regions of RF (Murmank, Petrozavodsk, St.Petersburg, Astrakhan, Kaluga, Smolensk, Tver, Moscow and Moscow oblast) to be held in December2005 in Russia (Moscow). The TCC Vienna jointly with IOM Moscow during the months of November and December and January implemented the project Migration Management in the EECA: Translation, Dissemination and Training of the EMM toolkit. The translation into Russian of all three volumes of the training materials was organized and completed by the start of the training sessions (19-23 December). The training course for 25 selected migration officials was conducted and the essentials in migration management were distributed among the participants. The training of trainers was also organized for 5 Russian trainers from the MoI s educational intuitions. Upon the completion of the training courses the participants praised the practical aspect of this training as well as the structure of the training that was organized in such a way that the migration officials were kept involved all the time with lots of visual devices. Practical learning was emphasized as a very good tool for understanding the material in a faster and more efficient way. Mrs.Alexandra Zemskova, Head of the Immigration Control Department expressed the thanks of the FMS leadership for organizing learning workshops and gratitude of Mr.Romodanovskiy to IOM for cooperation in this area. She also noted that given the need it would be useful to conduct a similar event covering Eastern part of Russia. A concrete suggestion was expressed to have more connection to the Russian reality and need to operate with up-to-date information. Opening of the EMM Training in Bolshevo The official publication/printing of the EMM training module will be completed and distributed this March, EMM TRAINING IN THE FMS CENTER IN BOLSHEVO On December 2005 IOM Moscow in close cooperation with TCC Vienna and IOM Head Quarters has conducted training for Russian migration officials. The training was prepared and introduced on the basis of the IOM recently developed curriculum on the Essentials of Migration Management, a Guide for Policy Makers and Practitioners (EMM). The EMM Manual is a new learning tool, written in a non-technical manner, which provides an interactive framework of reference and instruction on contemporary migration dynamics, policies and terms. The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 2

3 expand such activities especially to cover more distant regions of the RF. TRAFFICKING ASSESSMENT AND COUNTER- TRAFFICKING CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT (KALININGRAD, RUSSIA) Participants to the EMM Training in Bolshevo The training for Russian migration professionals came as the first from the series of trainings within the framework of IOM TCC project Migration Management in EECA: Translation, Dissemination and Training of the EMM Toolkit. It was organized as two interlinked courses: a four day training for practitioners that has taken place in FMS training center Bolshevo and one day training of trainers (ToT) in the IOM Moscow premises. Both activities were implemented in an interactive manner using principles of adult learning. The experienced instructors from IOM HQ, IOM TCC and IOM Moscow delivered theoretical and practical sessions for 25 officials of FMS Central office and regional bureaus on the 6 topics previously selected by FMS leadership as most vital for Russian migration specialists: Migration law and its development, Passport/visa and immigration systems, international cooperation and citizenship issues. IOM Moscow Project Development and Implementation Unit (PDIU) together with the Moscow Migration Research Programme (MMRP) units are engaged in implementing the project activities within the framework of a joint IOM Helsinki, IOM Vilnius and IOM Moscow Project Trafficking Assessment and Capacity Building Project in the Kaliningrad Oblast, Russian Federation, funded by the Finnish MFA (funding Kaliningrad oblast component: USD 181,244/duration: 18 months from September 2005 to February 2007). This is part of a larger IOM Baltic States Project developed within the U.S. Government s Enhanced Partnership in Norther Europe (e-pine) framework entitled Counter-Trafficking Capacity Building and Awareness Raising Activities for Officials in the Baltic States. The Kaliningrad Project represents a good start of crossborder cooperation for IOM missions in the counter-trafficking area in the Baltic region. The aim of the Trafficking Assessment and Capacity Building Project for the Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia project is to prevent and curtail trafficking in human beings through enhanced understanding of the crime as it relates to the Kaliningrad Oblast and increased cooperation between law enforcement officials, legal practitioners, government officials, social workers, and NGOs. Team Work The importance of the above mentioned topics as well as EMM training in general was initially mentioned in the conversations between IOM Director General Mr. Brunson McKinley and FMS Director Mr. Romadanovsky and later confirmed by official letter to IOM Moscow. After its completion, the training was recognized as affective and useful both by participants and FMS leadership. The informal and interactive character of the course was especially appreciated by participants, who commented that this study contributed substantially to the effectiveness of learning. They mentioned the necessity to IOM delegation meets Kaliningrad Police The Project is implemented by IOM Vilnius and IOM Moscow offices and involves an assessment of the scale and nature of trafficking in the region followed by capacity building for law enforcement officials, NGOs, and social workers. Through this project, and other IOM projects implemented in the region (CT Project for Russia, funded by European Commission and others), regional coordination and cooperation in combating trafficking in human beings will be improved. As a starting point of the Project, the two missions (IOM Moscow and IOM Vilnius) developed a joint implementation plan. On October 27-28, 2005 a first introductory visit was implemented by Audra Sipaviciene (Coordinator of the Project, IOM Vilnius), Nina Adamova (Coordinator of the PDIU, IOM Moscow) and Rada Erentaite (assistant to Coordinator, IOM Vilnius) to have meetings with Administration of the Oblast, Ombudsman on Human Rights, Representative of MFA in Kaliningrad, Border Control Unit, Police The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 3

4 officials, Kaliningrad Regional Duma representatives, Migration Service, AIDS and Sociological centers and NGOs to introduce the CT Project and analyze the level of awareness of the problem and discuss the needs and create a basis for CT solutions in the Kaliningrad oblast. The Kaliningrad officials welcomed the IOM Project and will actively participate in its implementation. Meeting at Kaliningrad Duma As a second step the Project provides for evaluation of the THB situation in this oblast. This survey is carried out by IOM MMRP staff (Galina Vitkovskaya, Anna Rubtsova) jointly with an invited researcher Elena Turukanova. On the basis of the survey, roundtables and meetings with law-enforcement bodies will be conducted in order to develop a necessary infrastructure in the area of counter-trafficking. In addition special educational materials will be developed and three trainings for law-enforcements officials, social workers, NGOs and other parties involved will be organized. Within the framework of this project, Anna Rubtsova (MMRP Coordinator) and Elena Turukanova, the invited researcher, visited Kaliningrad in December 2005 and conducted 25 expert interviews with representatives of law-enforcement bodies, migration and employment services, employment agencies, NGOs, mass media, migrants, etc. The analytical report will be prepared in February systems; improving access to mental health care, developing integration and prevention strategies and further capacity building. As a result the participants would have a better knowledge and understanding of the pertinent issues and would thus be better equipped to meet the challenges in addressing migration and health in emergencies. In addition, a communication network will have been established to facilitate continuous co-operation and policy co-ordination between health and migration communities both within governments and at the international level. Another output of this joint IOM and Serbskiy Centre enterprise is an established world data-base of a network of specialists (organizations) in Internet - Website for an easy access and open use is still in great need: we keep on looking for funds for its organization. So far we have not found funds for the International Conference Mental Health in Emergences. However this Conference was included in the time-table events of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia for the year 2005 and the Serbskiy State Research Centre on Social and Forensic Psychiatry has been appointed as a responsible leading organization to conduct the renamed to Disaster Psychiatry Conference anyway. This Conference was the short version of the one that IOM planned initially in cooperation with the Serbskiy Institute colleagues during the previous year. The Disaster Psychiatry Conference took place in Moscow at the Central House of Science, Russian Academy of Sciences on October, IOM MOSCOW PARTICIPATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL DISASTER PSYCHIATRY CONFERENCE Almost a year ago IOM Moscow was approached by the International Department of the Serbskiy State Research Centre in Social and Forensic Psychiatry (Russian Academy of Medical Sciences) with an invitation to jointly prepare and organize an International Conference on Psycho-Psychiatric Assistance in Emergency Situations in Moscow. The conference primary goals are capacity building and to enhance the understanding of the complex relationship between mental health and forced population mobility, to create a forum where policy makers, practitioners and other stakeholders from governments, intergovernmental agencies and nongovernmental bodies can meet and exchange views. Outlined regulatory approaches, tools and methods in concrete areas such as supporting public health research in psychology and psychiatry in case of emergences; strengthening information and surveillance Dr. Lyubov Erofeeva, MedPD Co-ordinator, IOM Moscow The main audience - the Russian specialists and the respected foreign specialists like Dr. Ng A. from Disaster American Psychiatric Association; Dr. Cancrow R. and Dr. Neria Y. from the Department of Psychiatry of the Columbia University, NY, USA; Dr. Gordon H. from the Oxford University, UK; Dr. Tolkanets S.V. from Gomel Clinic, Belorussia; Dr. Grinevich E.G. from Ukranian Research Centre in Social and Forensic Psychiatry and Narcology, Kiev, Ukraine; Dr. Maruta N.A. from Kharkov Institute of Psychiatry and Nevrology, Ukraine; Dr. Aidos A.K from Republic Psychiatry Hospital, Kazakhstan; Dr. Windisch M. from Department of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry Centre, France; Dr. Rockenschanb G. from the Disaster Preparedness Regional WHO Office; Dr. Saracheno from the Department of Mental Health, WHO, Geneva were present at the Conference too. WHO Copenhagen has contributed technically and financially to the meeting. The The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 4

5 Conference attracted more than 15 hundred public health employees psychiatrists, psychologists, health and paramedical specialists representing different fields of the first aid services provision after the crises. To cover the costs of the Conference some pharmaceutical firms were co- sponsors of the Conference, and as such, displayed their new products at the Conference exhibition. The topics for discussion at the Conference were the following: Psychiatric disorders caused by disaster and their therapy; Therapy of psychological & psychiatric disorders as consequences of disaster; Organization of psychiatric and psychological care in disaster situations; Psychological and psychiatric aspects of natural and anthropogenic disasters; Terrorism and terrorism menace: multidisciplinary approach; Psychosomatic disorders as consequences in disaster; lessons learned after the 9:11 Attack in the USA, Dubrovka Terrorist Hostage in Moscow in 2003 and recent massacre of hostage taking at the Beslan School Crises in North Osetia, Russia. Taking into account IOM expertise in the field of Mental Health Assistance in the Crises Situations, IOM Moscow with Mrs. Jacqueline Weekers` (MHD Senior Officer, IOM Geneva) assistance prepared a Power Point Presentation and offered it to the audience. The IOM Presentation conducted by Dr. Lyubov Erofeeva gave an overview of the current types of psychological activities and support after the natural and anthropogenic disasters which attracted a lot of questions and comments from the specialists expressing their interest for further collaboration. The Conference participants as well were provided with the IOM in-house material like its Position Paper in Mental Health, Migration Health Annual Report, etc. According to the organisers conducting the post-conference survey the specialists` feedback was very positive; the issues discussed at the Conference should be further analyzed and could be of great interest for the emergency health and migration policy makers, for the continuity of the information sharing process. IOM Moscow will continue to advocate for the organization of the well represented International Conference in Mental Health in Emergencies in Moscow. IOM MOSCOW MIGRATION RESEARCH PROGRAMME (MMRP) Before describing current MMRP activities, we would like to glance back and give a very brief evaluation of the results of the information campaign on preventing irregular migration in the Sverdlovsk oblast that was conducted in April-June In issue 4 we gave details of the activities under this campaign. When evaluating the practical results in terms of statistics, it is worth mentioning the following: in Sverdlovsk oblast in June the number of applications for a work permit submitted by labour migrants to the FMS doubled as compared to May (from 1,500 to more than 3000). That substantially exceeds the figures of the same month in previous years. As for statistics for 9 months of 2005, the number of permits on recruiting foreign labour force issued for employers was 3,2 times more as compared to the same period of 2004 (517 in 2004 and 1668 in 2005), and the number of work permits for migrants also was three times greater (4489 in 2004 and in 2005). At the same time, the total number of migrants who come to Sverdlovsk oblast remained unchanged both in 2004 and in 2005 thus this sizeable increase could be attributed to a great extent to this information campaign. More than 1500 persons applied to the hot line which work has been extended until 15 October 2005 at the request of officials, migrants and NGOs. Very positive feedback was received in a letter of Mr. Abdulaev, of the Tajik Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population Representative in the Ural Federal District, in the opinion of our Diaspora, the work of the hot line allowed Tajik labour migrants to get sufficient information on migration issues. We would like to ask IOM to elaborate and implement new programmes on the territory of the Russian Federation aimed at legalization of foreign labour migrants on behalf of the Tajik Ministry of Labour I assure in our readiness to take part in all initiatives of IOM in Sverdlovsk oblast... We also received a letter of gratitude from Mr. Nifontov, Head of the Migration Department of GUVD of Sverdlovsk oblast who stressed that this initiative was very useful and fit completely interests of Sverdlovsk oblast. Plenipotentiary on Human Rights in Svedlovsk oblast, Ms. Merzlyakova included this IOM information campaign into their annual report. We would like to add that this campaign has demonstrated the existing positive approach of all authorities in Sverdlovsk oblast and their willingness to search for solutions of migration-related problems in a constructive way. Joint work on this project enhanced cooperation among various branches of authorities in the region as well as with NGOs and ethnic communities. With their assistance, the dialog in mass media on the issues of migration, tolerance and integration was revived that evoked the interest and as a result, the growing number of unbiassed publications and TV and radio programmes on these topics. Reverting to our current activities, MMRP is involved into the following projects: In September 2005 MMRP started implementing a joint ODIHR OSCE IOM project aimed at informational support to the elaboration and implementation of the state programme on regularization of migrant workers with unregulated status in the RF («immigration amnesty ). This issue has become one of the priorities of the current RF migration policy. All corresponding governmental structures admit the necessity of taking urgent measures in order to bring out irregular migrants from the shadow sector and thus decrease the level of irregular migration in the country. First of all irregular labour migration makes up the bigger share of overall irregular migration. According to estimates, the number of irregular migrants in Russia is above 5 million out of whom the number of irregular labour migrants makes up some 3,5 million while the officially recruited foreign labour counted for 478,000 in In order to start designing the draft concept of regularization of migrant workers in the RF, the Special Working Group under the Plenipotentiary on Human Rights in RF was established in In September November 2005 the Federal Migration Service implemented a series of experimental legalization programmes (immigration amnesties) in 9 RF regions (Moscow, Moscow oblast, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Kradnodarskiy kray, Primorskiy kray, Omsk, St. Petersburg, Sakhalin oblast). The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 5

6 However, RF official bodies understand that in order to start a largescale legalization programme it is necessary to evaluate the possible scale of this action, willingness of migrants and employers to participate in it, attractive and limiting factors, possible difficulties and obstacles and elaborate the mechanisms of its implementation based on the regional peculiarities, including attitude of regional authorities to it. These were the goals of the above mentioned project launched by OSCE-IOM MMRP and implemented jointly with corresponding Russian agencies responsible for this programme RF Federal Migration Service (federal and regional branches) and RF Federal Service on Labour and Employment (FSLE). The project includes sociological surveys among migrants and employers in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, survey among regional branches of FMS and FSLE and among policy-makers (Governors Administrations and Parliaments) in 30 Russian regions. The findings of the surveys including recommendations for the regularization programme in RF will be presented at a roundtable in March 2006 where representatives of RF federal and regional corresponding structures as well as trade unions, unions of employers and migrants, academicians, NGOs including Diaspora ones dealing with providing assistance to migrants, foreign embassies and international organizations will take part. The analytical report will be prepared, published and disseminated among agencies and persons involved in this programme s elaboration and implementation in the RF and other interested partices. It is also planned to issue a special publication devoted to the international experience of conducting regularization programmes. In December 2005 MMRP jointly with the Federal Migration Service and at its request organized the first meeting entitled Leasing of labour force: its tasks, forms and organizational and legal base within the frameworks of the project Direct dialog on the national level. Deputy Head of FMS, Mr. Postavnin and other FMS officials from corresponding departments (department on external labour migration, on licensing, etc.) took part in it as well as officials from the Federal Service on Labour and Employment, Ministry of Regional Development, representatives of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, Center for Strategic Studies under the Plenipotentiary of RF President in Volga Federal District, other research experts. The issue of leasing of labour force is completely new for Russia, and has been raised only recently. At the meeting the arguments pro and contra of using this form of work with foreign labour were discussed as well as possible infrastructure and basis of its work. The participants considered this issue very important and worth discussing with respect to the future development of migration and economic policy of the RF and decided to organize a second meeting on the same topic in February They also admitted that this form of communication between practitioners and expert community was very effective and expressed their wish to develop this work and expand the range of topics as it gives the possibility for officials to get competent information from experts and necessary argumentation that will help them in elaboration of concrete managerial decisions. MMRP provided consultative assistance to FMS in evaluating the draft amendments to the law On the status of foreign citizens in the RF, draft law On Migration registration of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the RF and proposals on advisability of implementing the programme on regularization of migrant workers with unregulated status in RF. MMRP Research Coordinator made reports at several conferences: Russian-German Symposium Contemporary Migration Problems, conference Migration processes, migration policy and legislation in post-soviet states as a reflection of changes, at a meeting in the Ministry of Regional Development of RF devoted to the elaboration of draft concept of the federal programme Development of an infrastructure of population mobility in RF as well as to the concept of designing module migration centers in the RF (the cases of Yekaterinburg and Kazan were examined) and development of a system of leasing of labour force in RF. She also gave several interviews to mass media including presentation in a live broadcasting at the radio Echo of Moscow at a discussion organized by the ROSBALT Information Agency. POLAND VOLUNTARY ASSISTED RETURN AND REINTEGRATION OF UNSUCCESSFUL ASYLYM SEEKERS PROGRAM During 8 months in 2005 IOM Moscow participated in the implementation of the Poland Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration of Unsuccessful Asylum Seekers Programme. The aim of this pilot project was to develop efficient mechanisms for assisted voluntary return of unsuccessful asylum seekers from Poland and reintegration assistance in the country of origin. The project involves providing potential beneficiaries with information and counseling on return opportunities as well as with reliable and impartial information regarding situation in their country of origin and, where possible, organization of the return travel and assistance with reintegration. The project was executed by IOM Warsaw in partnership with the Polish Office for Repatriation and Foreigners and IOM Missions in the countries of return. Out of the total number of foreigners, who had applied for refugee status and whose applications were rejected or who abandoned their claim for refugee status, 66 individuals have returned to the Russian Federation, mostly to the Northern Caucasus region. IOM Warsaw arranged the returnees travel to Moscow, while IOM Moscow provided migrants with onward tickets to their final destination, transit assistance and further with reintegration assistance. The reintegration part of the programme envisaged assisting returnees in the activities aimed at facilitating their integration. IOM Moscow staff in charge of the reintegration component of the programme developed individually tailored reintegration plans for each migrant. The reintegration grant money in the amount of 250 Euro per individual was used by the returnees for professional training or upgrading, partially covering costs of further education, restoration of the destroyed houses/apartments and setting up of small businesses. Despite the difficulties encountered with signing contracts related to various reintegration services and activities, as well as the problems with money transfer to the Northern Caucasus region banks all the returnees have expressed their gratitude for the reintegration assistance provided by IOM. At present the results of the pilot project are being analyzed in order to decide if it should be continued. The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 6

7 MOSCOW MIGRANT PROCESSING AND MOVEMENTS From July 1 through December 31, IOM Moscow continued its work with the Russian government, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and various UNHCR offices and U.S. Embassies across Europe and the ex-ussr to implement its program of voluntary resettlement to the United States for migrants and refugees. IOM Moscow supports the U.S. government's resettlement efforts in West, Central and East Europe, as well as the ex-ussr. The largest group of beneficiaries is in Krasnodar, where a temporary IOM office continued working on the Meskhetian Turk program. IOM Moscow staff also traveled to process cases, interview applicants, prepare files for interviews, and assist U.S. government officials in: Baku (Azerbaijan), Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro), Chisinau (Moldova), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Frankfurt (Germany), the Hague (Netherlands), Kiev (Ukraine), Skopje (Macedonia), Timisoara (Romania) and Tbilisi (Georgia). IOM MEDICAL UNIT INFORMS IOM Medical Unit has permanently provided extensive information to migrants in the form of leaflets and counseling by phone and personally. Recently IOM MED has created a video, containing necessary information on the medical examination processing for migration and possible rejections on medical grounds, as well as the most important information about such infectious diseases as TB and HIV. Timisoara: Refugee Center Comprehensive statistics for the period were as follows: Applications received and processed: 8'717 individuals Presented to DHS for status determination: 8'432 individuals Cultural Orientation provided to: 1'853 individuals Departures to the U.S.: 8'032 individuals IOM Info Video Continuously Plays At the IOM Clinic Waiting Room The information is shared with migrants on TV/DVD at the IOM medical center, when migrants have some free time in between x- ray, phlebotomy and medical examination. The aim was to make the complex procedure of medical examination more comprehensible and efficient and migrants more cooperative. The applicants get answers to the numerous questions, which are not asked yet, but may arise later. TAMIFLU PROCUREMENT AS A PART OF IOM RUSSIAN FEDERATION CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC. Constructing a Traditional oven at the Refugee Center in Timisoara Russia is considered as a high-risk country, given its size, geographical location bordering with a number of high-risk countries and presence of already confirmed cases of avian flu among birds. Taking into account WHO recommendations, the UN Country Team (UNCT) procured a basic stockpile allowing for a 5-day course of Tamiflu treatment for 30% of all their staff and their dependants. In addition, the UNCT is planning to procure enough Tamiflu to cover prophylaxis needs of the essential staff identified by each agency. IOM requested supplies sufficient to cover 50% of the IOM population. 142 packs (covering 30% of IOM population) have been already delivered to IOM. Procurement of the rest (doses for the coverage of the essential staff) is The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 7

8 expected to be completed in the 3d quarter of For all other staff, stockpiling of Tamiflu for preventive use is a personal choice of each staff member. IOM MOSCOW AND KRASNODAR OFFICES IOM Russia staffing trends KRR MOW IOM Moscow gender ratio ( year 2006) Male 30% Female 70% COPIES OF THE NEWSLETTER ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US. IOM MOSCOW 2 ND ZVENIGORODSKAYA STREET, , MOSCOW RUSSIAN FEDERATION TEL.: FAX: IOMMOSCOW@IOM.INT The IOM Moscow Times, Issue 5 8