MRF NAIROBI BULLETIN

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1 MRF NAIROBI BULLETIN I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : IOM Initiates crossborder peace committee for Toposa and Turkana Dawn of a New Era; Kenya s Ministry for Labour launches a Labour Migration Unit 1 2 J A N - M A R IOM INITIATES CROSS BORDER PEACE COMMITTEE FOR KENYAN AND SUDANESE COMMUNITIES people dead and thousands of livestock unaccounted for. The ever increasing tension between the Turkana and the Toposa is a concern for both the Kenyan and Southern Sudanese governments who have partnered with IOM to help manage the autonomous cross border movements of these pastoralist communities. IOM Director General Visits Djibouti; Opens Migration Response Centre The Garissa Cultural Center gets increased Mobility as IOM purchases a car to manage center operations Major achievements as IOM marks the end of Capacity Building in Migration Management IOM joins in the move against Tuberculosis IOM Opens Clinic in Busia. New Clinic Offers Roadside Health care for Hard-to-Reach Populations International Organization for Migration Mission with Regional Functions For Eastern Africa, Church Road, Off Rhapta Road, Westlands PO Box Nairobi, KENYA Phone: /174 Fax: piunairobi@iom.int Website: Participant expresses her concerns during the consultative forum for peace A cross border peace committee has been initiated to unite the Toposa of Sudan and the Turkana of Kenya along the Kenya-Sudan border. The committee comprised of 22 members will monitor emerging signs of conflict and inform communities as well as be the ambassadors of peace within the Ateker cluster. (This cluster comprises Turkanas and Toposas who speak one language and observe similar cultural values. The peace committee was formed following a consultative cross-border peace forum that was facilitated by IOM at the request of the Government of Kenya, to mend a growing divide between Kenya's Turkana and Southern Sudan's Toposa communities over diminishing resources as continued famine and drought devastate northern Kenya. The two communities, respectively living either side of the Kenyan-Sudanese border, have witnessed a growing number of resource-based conflicts in recent years. Toposa cross over to Kenya in search of pasture while the Turkana cross to Sudan in search of water. The northern regions of Kenya are marked by massive loss of pasture, water scarcity, declining terms of trade for livestock as well as high food prices, famine, poverty and malnutrition rates. With both communities being pastoralists, there has been an escalation in cattle rustling with retaliatory attacks between both communities leaving several The conflict between the Turkana and Toposa has increased in the past months due to the effects of climate change, especially the persistent drought that has led to scarce water sources and grazing lands. A regional advocacy on climate change adaptation is being conducted through IOM s partnership with UNOCHA, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) under the framework of Security in Mobility partnership. IOM s project compliment this inter agency effort in ensuring pastoralists livelihoods and cross border mobility. The forum was attended by a delegation from Southern Sudan, led by H.E the Commissioner of East Kapoeta Mr. Titos Lotean and four MPs from Southern Sudan. The Kenyan delegation was led by Hon. John Munyes, the Minister for Labour (also the member of parliament for Turkana North) and the former area member of parliament for Turkana North. Also in attendance were District Commissioners and District Officers from Kenya and Southern Sudan, as well as representatives of civil society. Participants follow proceedings at the cross border consultative forum for peace

2 P A G E 2 THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA: KENYA S MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT LAUNCH A LABOUR MIGRATION UNIT WITH SUPPORT FROM IOM migration policy and established a labour migration unit at the National Employment Bureau. In partnership with the Ministry, IOM also conducted a pilot survey of the Diaspora dynamics in the United Kingdom. Speaking during the official hand-over ceremony of the new labour migration unit, the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Mr. Patrick Mwangi said: The Ministry is grateful to IOM for the support in establishing the Labour Migration Unit. This unit was informed by the need to protect the increasing needs of Kenyans travelling abroad in search of employment as well as those already living and working in foreign countries. Labour Migration stakeholders follow proceedings during the launch of the Labour Migration Unit The Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development has established a new labour migration unit that will enable the Ministry to effectively monitor cross border labour migration. The labour migration unit that was launched in February 2011 was undertaken is a collaborative project between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Labour. In 2007 the government started regulating labour migration upon realizing how it can contribute to national development by easing pressures of unemployment, skills transfers acquired abroad as well as remittances. As such, the Ministry of Labour approached IOM for technical assistance to enhance its capacities to regulate Labour Migration. The development comes at a time when cases are on the rise of job-seekers being conned out of their money by unscrupulous employment agencies. This is happening because of lack of information. All employment agencies will now be registered and vetted by the Ministry. They will also be required to make regular returns giving details of jobs they are offering, the employers they are recruiting for, location, terms of services and salaries attached to these jobs, he said. All employment agencies will now be registered and vetted by the Ministry of Labour and Registration of Persons The project was funded under an IOM internal funding mechanism awarded to member states, known as 1035 Facility. IOM is happy to be part of this landmark achievement and will remain ready to work with the Government of Kenya in future initiatives on migration.ashraf El Nour. IOM Regional Representative The notable achievement in this collaboration has been the adoption of e-government as a means of capturing data and sharing information on labour migration. Since 2009, IOM has helped the ministry to develop its website for the National Employment Bureau which is the Department responsible for Labour Migration; provided the ministry with a server that would help manage the website database; develop databases for skills inventory, Diaspora profiles, labour market information from employers and private employment agency interface with the Department; develop a draft labour The IOM regional representative Mr. Ashraf El Nour hands over a Deed of Agreement to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Human Development Mr. Patrick Mwangi

3 THE IOM DIRECTOR GENERAL OPENS A MIGRATION RESPONSE CENTER IN DJIBOUTI P A G E 3 As part of this Japanese-funded initiative, IOM recently trained 60 coastguards from Djibouti, Yemen and Somalia's Puntland to equip them with the necessary skills to protect and assist particularly vulnerable groups such as victims of trafficking. IOM Djibouti also organized in December a meeting for high-level government officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen, to find ways to jointly address the needs of irregular migrants en route to Yemen. IOM PROVIDES ASSISTED VOLUNTARY RETURNS TO ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS RESCUED AT THE GULF OF ADEN IOM Director General William Swing cuts the ribbon to the Migration Response Centre in Obock, Djibouti IOM Director General William Lacy Swing was in Djibouti in February, for meetings with senior government officials to address the humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa en route to Yemen via the Gulf of Aden. During his visit the Director General had the opportunity to visit Obock, a small sea port on the Northern shores of the Gulf of Tadjoura, where he opened a Migration Response Centre. The centre, which is located on the outskirts of Obock, aims to provide direct humanitarian assistance and referral services to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are currently living in miserable conditions in and around Obock. In January 2011, the US navy rescued 49 migrants at the Gulf of Aden. The migrants, all Somali nationals included 22 adult males, 17 female adults, four male children and six female children. According to the US Embassy in Nairobi, there were no life threatening injuries among the rescued migrants although one woman was pregnant, two had high blood pressure, one was diabetic and six had musculoskeletal complaints. The Djibouti government allowed the migrants to transit through Djibouti within 48 hours. Women and children were registered at the Djibouti s Ali Addeh refugee camp. The migrants were moved to Ethiopia on 5 February They were received and hosted at the IOM transit centre in Addis Ababa. UNHCR carried out a Refugee Status Determination and all migrants were transferred to UNHCR camps in Ethiopia. The centre will also provide unbiased information on the dangers of irregular migration across the Gulf of Aden and offer the option of voluntary return and reintegration for stranded individuals and families. "This centre is a milestone in our joint efforts to address the humanitarian needs of vulnerable individuals, including victims of trafficking and unaccompanied minors," says Director General Swing. "It will hopefully prevent more suffering and tragedies at sea by offering a way out for all those who currently have no one to turn to but ruthless human smugglers." Obock and the Gulf of Tadjoura are increasingly used by smuggling networks that regularly put the lives of thousands of Ethiopians, Somalis and Eritreans at risk. Last year, more than 30,000 people boarded smuggler s boats in the region of Obock, including women and children. Many have suffered terrible abuse at the hands of smugglers, including beatings, rape and being thrown overboard. Djibouti has a unique set of migration challenges owing to its location at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa. It is also a gateway from the Horn of Africa to the Middle East and although not documented, is increasingly becoming a source and transit country for movements across the Gulf of Aden and beyond. IOM facilitated the return of 49 migrants from Ethiopia. The migrants were rescued by the US marine after their boats capsized at the Gulf of Aden The emergency humanitarian assistance included transportation arrangement, medical screening/care, counselling, reception assistance, and financial support to return and reintegrate to their communities of origin. In November 2010, on urgent request by the US Embassy in Kenya and with financial support from the US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, MRF Nairobi carried out the emergency humanitarian assistance from the Mombasa Seaport of 62 stranded migrants rescued by US marines in the Gulf of Aden.

4 IOM AND PARTNERS KICK-START THE PROCESS FOR TACKLING HIV IN EMERGENCIES Often overlooked, and rarely anticipated, HIV remains a critical factor in emergency contexts. During the aftermath of the Kenyan post-election violence in 2008, a number of systems failed to pre -empt and prepare for the impact relating to HIV, with devastating consequences. In humanitarian emergencies, HIV prevention and treatment commodities are scarce, sexual and gender-based violence often increases, and basic health care services become inaccessible; all of which increases the vulnerability of people living with HIV and AIDS, and aggravates the likelihood of new infections. Supported by the Joint United Nations Team on HIV and AIDS in Kenya - an initiative to reduce the spread of HIV and improve the quality of life for those infected - a workshop was held in Nakuru from March Partner agencies included the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNAIDS, World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The meeting was hosted by the National AIDS Control Council, with relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies also in attendance. P A G E 4 IOM s Greg Irving adds: This workshop was fundamental for bringing together a variety of important actors to finally formulate a minimum package addressing HIV in emergencies. This is the first step towards developing a national contingency plan and to build capacities that will facilitate Kenya to effectively address HIV and AIDS in future crises. Ultimately, this can only be achieved through strengthening partnerships. With momentum high and an action plan in place partners will continue to push the agenda for mainstreaming HIV in emergencies. IOM HANDS OVER A VEHICLE TO BE USED AT THE GARISSA CULTURAL CENTER The International Organization for Migration IOM handed over to the Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture a motor vehicle that will be used in operations and coordination of the Garissa Cultural Center. The vehicle that was received by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture Dr. Jacob Ole Miaron is a welcome addition to the center which was launched in May This is one of the successful projects that IOM has implemented with the Government in a difficult area. Your work on Counter Trafficking is sensitive because you deal with humans and what affects their livelihood. This specific cultural center is strategic because it seeks to address livelihood concerns through culture. It brings communities together to share communal wealth. Said Dr. Jacob Miaron. Alice Natecho, Head of Communications at the National AIDS Control Council addresses workshop attendees IOM 2011 The objective of the workshop was to initiate a national contingency plan and build capacities at all levels to deal with HIV in emergencies. A national steering committee is currently being formed to oversee its implementation. The workshop also strengthened the capacity of key individuals in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and Government ministries through a two day Training of Trainers course. Over 22 participants, including representatives from NGOs, the Ministry of State for Special Programmes and the Kenya National AIDS/STD Control Programme were trained on how to prepare for, and handle, HIV prevention in emergencies to ensure the continuity of health systems. Speaking at the workshop Professor Alloys Orago, Director of the National AIDS Control Council said: We need to deliver a framework to tackle HIV in emergencies so we are better off as a country. Now is the time. The Government of Kenya through the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture seeks to construct several cultural centers around the country. So far 17 cultural centers have been constructed. The Minister has recognized and appreciates the work that IOM has put towards the establishment of this cultural center and pledges the Ministry s support in future partnerships. Said the Permanent Secretary. In the partnership agreement between IOM and the Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture, IOM proposed the establishment of a Somali Cultural Centre that would serve as a skills centre where host communities (specifically identified vulnerable families) can work and preserve their culture while engaging in income generating activities (IGA s). The project is multi-faceted as it provides skill training as well as providing IGA s to sustain and support the beneficiary group through resources accrued from the activities of the cultural centre. This enables the reintegration of the beneficiaries into the larger community and spurs hope and confidence in them.

5 IOM JOINS THE MOVE AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS P A G E 5 MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS AS IOM MARKS THE END OF CAPACITY BUILDING FOR MIGRATION MANAGEMENT Migration management is increasingly becoming a complex area of governance and calls for governments to comprehensively and cooperatively address the challenges associated with migration. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has in the past two years been working with the Department of Immigration Services in the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons to establish effective migration management. In Kariobangi North, a densely populated residential area on the outskirts of Nairobi, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joined local residents, government officials and civil society representatives to mark World Tuberculosis Day. The theme of the day, which is marked annually around the world on March 24, was On The Move Against Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization in Today, almost one-third of the world s population is said to be infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB), the bacterium that causes TB. The 6 th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) has set a target to cut in half the global incidence rate of TB by The World Health Organization ranks Kenya 13 th on the list of 22 high-tb burden countries. These 22 countries are reported to account for 80 per cent of the global infections of TB. In Kenya, IOM s migration health division works closely with the Government to provide improved standards of TB treatment for migrants, mobile populations and host communities. IOM Kenya runs two medical health clinics in Nairobi, one in Eastleigh, a suburb of Nairobi that is predominantly inhabited by Somali migrants, and one at the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre in Upper Hill, Nairobi. Kenya s Minister for Public Health and Sanitation, Honourable Beth Wambui Mugo, commended health workers for the gains made in the fight against TB and called for increased programming to curb the disease. She remarked: Many people still do not understand tuberculosis. They do not know that it kills when not treated and that it can put others at risk. They do not know that if they seek medical treatment, they can be totally healed. The project which started in August 2008 set out to develop and implement coordinated and humane migration management through three main components: enhancing inter-ministerial coordination and promoting policy development; enhancing border management capacity and humanitarian services along the Kenya-Somalia Border; enhancing capacity of government officers with migration functions through targeted training and other interventions Key achievements in this project include the drafting of a National Immigration Policy which takes into consideration the latest developments in Kenya and in the region, following the signing of the new constitution in August 2010 and the EAC Common Market protocol which was signed in July In enhancing border management capacity and humanitarian services along the Kenya-Somalia Border; IOM handed over to the Department of Immigration Services a Mobile Border Processing Unit (MBPU), the first of its kind in the East African region. The MBPU comprises of a Mobile Processing Unit and 2 Patrol vehicles designed to operate along the porous Kenya - Somalia border at sites with no immigration infrastructure or officer presence. The MBPU can also be used as a mobile office for operating along main migratory routes and can effectively help to detect, identify and intercept in any kind of irregular immigration or transnational crime, in particular human trafficking and smuggling of persons across borders, as well as counter-terrorism activities. To ensure effective and timely communication and flow of information between the Points of Entry and the Headquarter a communication centre was also established at the Immigration Headquarters in Nairobi, the Regional Immigration Office in Mombasa, at the border with Somalia at Kiunga and the border with Tanzania at Lunga Lunga. Officers were trained on the use of the communication equipments (HF and VHF radio s) IOM s Irene Kaumbuthu explains how a mobile passport processing unit works to the Director of Immigration services

6 KENYA S MINISTRY OF STATE FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMMES PUSHES FOR ENACTMENT OF A NATIONAL POLICY ON INTERNAL DISPLACEMENTS Resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP s) in Kenya has been a challenge for Kenya. Certain regions of Kenya, specifically in the North Rift Valley has experienced recurring displacement in the past five election seasons. There have also been displacements as a result of natural causes. It is due to the foregoing that IOM as a lead agency in camp coordination and camp management in natural disasters, joined various stakeholders in the consultative fora that was held in February 2010, to discuss the draft policy on internal displacements. P A G E 6 NEW CLINIC OFFERS ROADSIDE HEALTH CARE FOR HARD TO REACH POPULATIONS The health centre, which is located in the heart of a trailer park in the border town of Busia, in Kenya s Western province, will address the health needs of mobile populations, including the provision of free tuberculosis, malaria and HIV treatment. Managed by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and initially funded by The Great Lakes Initiative on AIDS (GLIA) through the National AIDS Control Council (NACC), the International Organization for Migration upgraded the clinic as a pilot funded by the Joint UN Programme of Support on AIDS (JUPSA). The clinic aims to operate 24 hours a day, however, further partnership and funding is still needed. The drafting of the National IDP policy for the protection and assistance of IDP s is a product of an all inclusive, intensive and broad based consultative process. Speaking while opening a National Protection Working Group on Internal Displaced Persons Retreat in Nairobi, the Minister of State for Special Programmes Hon. Esther Murugi said one of the key achievement towards addressing internally displaced in the country for now and the future is the draft IDP Policy which her ministry and other key stakeholders have worked on for the last two years. The vision of the policy is to find sustainable and durable solutions for all internally displaced persons and prevent displacements from occurring in the future. It is envisaged that the new policy will provide an institutional home for the internally displaced persons in Kenya and guide the country in preventing future displacements by eradicating root causes of displacements, mitigating its consequences, strengthening the response to the needs of the internally displaced persons and providing durable solutions. The minister said the core principals of the draft policy are centered on dignity, equality and non-discrimination and therefore, the government is compelled to treat IDP s with the dignity and respect accorded to all citizens of Kenya. The policy will serve to inform policy makers and the general public of the main objective of the document and shape further debate for speedy adoptions. It has been estimated that out of 660,000 people were displaced in the wake of the 2007 post election violence, 350,000 were hosted in IDP camps across the country. Tented camps, which were associated with refugees, sprouted everywhere as Kenyans woke up to the sad reality of being forcefully displaced in their own country. The policy will soon be tabled in parliament for enactment. HIV testing kits are delivered to the Busia Trailer Park Wellness Centre and Clinic which launched on 25 th March. IOM 2011 This is just a beginning, says Professor Alloys Orago, Director of the National AIDS Control Council. Working with IOM and the Kenya National AIDS/STD Control Programme, we aim to pepper the entire transport corridor with free health care clinics specifically designed for hard-to-reach populations. These include truck drivers, civil servants and female sex workers who, due to their deprived social and economic environment, are particularly prone to engaging in risky sex and, therefore, vulnerable to HIV/ AIDS. News of the opening of the Busia Trailer Park Wellness Centre and Clinic has already triggered a cross border meeting between Kenyan and Ugandan Government officials who met to discuss ways to offer a common health care package for mobile populations on both sides of the border. We see the Busia Trailer Park Wellness Centre and Clinic as a first step, says Greg Irving, IOM Health Programme Officer. We need to focus more on prevention; behavioural and clinical services must be put in place and scaled up to secure meaningful impact for migrants and mobile populations who are currently not being catered for by health services. Strengthened partnerships, capacity building, accountability, coordination and financial commitment will ultimately prevent new HIV infections.

7 P A G E 7 IN PREPERATION FOR RESETTLEMENT: THE IOM TRANSIT CENTER IN NAIROBI CONTINUES TO HOST CULTURAL ORIENTATION SESSIONS Women are taken through sessions on hygiene, nutrition for their children and their families as well as family planning issues. The youth are taught in separate sessions to be weary lest they are lured into drugs, shoplifting, gangsters and other anti-social behaviors by their peers. The youth are also oriented on social issues like how to go about dating versus arranged marriages with regards to diverse cultures and the new environment where lifestyles are bound to change their ways of life. In foreign countries budgeting and money management is important and hence migrants are advised on how to go about giving priority to issues like paying rent, loans in order to avoid being black listed in foreign countries. Cultural orientation global coordinator Paula Kansky talks to migrants during a Cultural orientation session in Nairobi The Cultural Orientation Centre in Kenya has recently relocated to a spacious location in Nairobi. The center is located a few meters from a recreational centre which is a home to Nairobi s largest memorial dedicated to the struggle for Kenya s independence. The centre is a hub of activities. In one of the orientation sessions with 11 Ethiopian migrants on transit to Australia and Canada, the migrants were learning about the different time zones but from their faces you could tell their attention was not only captured by what they were learning but their expectations upon reaching their destination. According to the global coordinator for Cultural Orientation of the Refugee Program in IOM, Paula Kansky who was on a visit to the Transit Centre, migrants who have undergone Cultural Orientation always respond positively towards the information they have acquired. The sessions play a vital role in enlightening migrants on the way of life in the countries they are going to. In response to the sessions, migrants are given a self addressed envelope which they use to send their response to the instructors to give a feedback of their new life. They appreciate the sessions which serve as an eye opener to what they anticipate. For instance, a Congolese migrant who was oriented wrote back to say that what they had been taught was the reality on the ground. According to instructor Idle Gure, a cultural orientation instructor, the migrant had a masters degree and was hopeful about getting a white collar job but on arrival he discovered that a masters degree was not a ticket to get a job since he needed to build up experience and resources in order to be certified and assimilated in the job market. The migrants that were attending the sessions feel that it was very helpful and they are bracing themselves in confidence for their next face in life after the orientation. They were grateful for the eye opening session and also thanked IOM for the hospitality the staff treated them with. Issues like the basic working ethic of the migrants in the destined country, basic hygiene and sanitation such as using modern washrooms, basic kitchen hygiene, survival skills, shopping vocabulary, basic safety skills at home, and general communication skills while in a foreign land are discussed. Cultural parity is also an issue migrants are oriented on because they are starting a new lifestyle in a new environment. Issues such as culture versus the law are discussed at length to help them understand the diversity. According to Khadija Magan a Cultural Orientation Instructor, some migrants come from communities where men don t cook or even help in house chores. It is at this point they are enlightened that at destination, life is not the same as their country of origin where the mother is the home maker while the husband is the bread winner. Everybody is bound to get themselves a job in order to make ends meet and in this case duties are to be shared equally in order to make life easier. The issue of gender equality comes in handy here as everyone lays an equal role in making life easier. Says Khadija. IOM s CO trainer Khadija Magan takes a class session at the IOM Transit Center in Nairobi

8 P A G E 8 IN PREPERATION FOR RESETTLEMENT: THE IOM TRANSIT CENTER IN NAIROBI CONTINUES TO HOST CULTURAL ORIENTATION SESSIONS The director and his delegation also visited the Windle Trust administered Secondary School where they saw the gaps that the youth population in Dadaab face with regards to access to education; safe haven for refugees (Lutheran World Foundation s administered Safe Haven). Several refugees who have been resettled to the United States have been selected from the Safe Haven. The Safe Haven provides temporary accommodation and shelter to women at risk and their children. The team had an opportunity to visit health centers as a highlight to the quality health care that the refugees have access to. Australian bound migrants brainstorming during a cultural orientation class at the Transit Center in Nairobi. In February, IOM Kenya hosted a senior delegation from the Department of Homeland Security/the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services office (DHS/USCIS). The Director of the DHS/USCIS office, Mr. Alejandro Mayorkas, led the delegation for a two day visit to Dadaab. The delegation also visited the Self Settled Refugees. An area where new arrivals to Ifo camp have started settling outside of the camp boundaries. This settlement highlights the immense pressure placed on agencies, the local community, and the government of Kenya. The visit that aimed to expose the delegation from DHS/USCIS to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) presented IOM with an opportunity to showcase the work that the organization does in support of DHS/CIS officers as well as the stages in resettlement at the camp level. The director visited the IOM interview/medical facilities. A visit to the field presented them with an opportunity to witness the constraints that IOM and partner agencies face in protection efforts to refugees in the world s largest refugee complex. Children eager to leave the Transit Center after completing the orientation lessons en route to Australia. This trip was of key significance because IOM provides DHS/CIS with logistical support during all of their missions to Dadaab and Kakuma. The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) which is the single largest source of funding for IOM in Kenya. Owing to this visit, Mr. Mayorkas left Kenya with a better understanding of how the USRAP works at the field level. Having such a high level delegation visit Dadaab helped to highlight the fact that the USG is committed to providing assistance to refugees and host governments who often times shoulder the largest portion of the refugee burden. IOM staff at the transit center works with children during a cultural orientation session The director was able to visit the UNHCR/Government of Kenya s registration center which are starting point that all refugees pass through when arriving in Dadaab. Ultimately, this is also the starting point for the resettlement process, as the information initially captured by UNHCR staff at this stage is used in the selection of beneficiaries for resettlement.

9 P A G E 9 MRF NAIROBI WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DONORS AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE FEATURED IN THIS MONTH S NEWSLETTER AND WITH WHOSE SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMMES HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE International Organization for Migration Mission with Regional Functions For Eastern Africa, Church Road, Off Rhapta Road. Westlands PO Box Nairobi, KENYA Phone: /174 Fax: piunairobi@iom.int Website: