IOM is also in the process of designing projects to

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1 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION IOM Iraq Newsletter Table of Contents Vol II 2009 January February March Foreword from the Chief of Mission Intelligence Training for Baghdad and Basrah Border Officers CBMMP Training Cources IOM & MoDM Start Data Management Project to Monitor Re- Launch of PHSS Phase II Foreword from the Chief of Mission The outlook for 2009 is more optimistic with the number of displacements, both internally and abroad, significantly subsiding and the number of Iraqis returning to their country and hometowns slowly but steadily increasing. These new developments bring new challenges as well as new areas of assistance. Among these challenges will be an increased need for job creation for those locally unemployed and returnees who will be looking for new opportunities. IOM is committed to its vision to support safe, orderly and voluntary return as well as sustainable reintegration and community stabilization. A new phase of the Programme for Human Security and Stabilization (PHSS) now started thanks to funding from the German Government and in partnership with the Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry for Displacement and Migration. PHSS aims to support the unemployed and under-employed as well as vulnerable communities, including returnees, who need economic growth, jobs and more basic service. We are sure other donors will follow to support reintegration and community stabilization in Iraq. IOM is also in the process of designing projects to encourage the return of qualified nationals to Iraq to take part in the rebuilding process. In the past, IOM ran the Iraqis Rebuilding Iraq Project (IRI) which brought home qualified Iraqi experts on short-term assignments in the public sector at Iraqis ministries and supporting bodies. The Government of Iraq hand-picked the experts according to their skills as well as which government department they were needed in. IOM hopes to re-launch the IRI project on a wider scale to include not only the public sector but also the private sector. We hope this will cover an increasing need for qualified experts with stability and growth in Iraq. We also hope this will encourage more and more Iraqis to permanently return home. IOM remains eager and ready to support the people and the Government of Iraq to best respond to the challenges this new era brings for Iraq. IOM aims to increase its already vast presence in all of Iraq s governorates by increasing the number of senior staff and doing more direct implementation of projects. Training for DA- FEC Baghdad & Basra Staff in the Czech Republic IOM Assists Unaccompanied Iraqi Child be Reunited with Family Training Course for Family Members with Disabled Children in Kirkuk Intelligence Training for Baghdad and Basrah Border Officers Eight border officers from Baghdad and Basrah Data Analysis and Forensic Examination Centres (DAFEC) received training in intelligence analysis methodology in January 2009 in Amman. This intensive two week course was delivered by a qualified practitioner and trainer from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. This training is part of the ongoing training package to support the development of the Data Analysis and Forensic Examination Centres (DAFEC) established under the Japanese and Czech-funded Capacity Building in Integrated Border Management for Iraq Programme CBIBM. The course seeks to provide the skills necessary for the staff to perform high-level analysis of information and produce targeted intelligence packages for their colleagues working in the enforcement arms of the various agencies engaged in managing the border. The training marks a significant step forward in equipping the DAFEC staff to perform effectively in their new roles. All eight staff passed this training and are now certified practitioners.

2 Page 2 CBMMP Training Courses Five training courses were conducted under Capacity Building in Migration Management Programme Management Programme (CBMMP) from January 8 th until March 16 th for 63 Iraqi officials and border officers. Trainings covered Essentials in Migration Management manuals, data and analysis principles and a workshop on issues related to roles of the Legislative Task Force representing ministries of Foreign Affairs, Displacement and Migration, Labour and Social Affairs, Finance, the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and other parties in the Government of Iraq. Training sessions were conducted in Baghdad, Beirut and Prague. Top left; Data Analysis Forensic Examination Center DAFEC at Basrah International Airport.. Top right; inside DAFEC Basrah Bottom; opening ceremony at DA- FEC in Baghdad February IOM staff and Iraqi border officers present. IOM & MoDM Start Data Management Project to Monitor Returnees This workshop was attended by ten staff members from MoDM in Baghdad including the Heads of the RRCs and MoDM s staff in Damascus. Issues discussed included MoDM s registration, data collection and management of statistics of returnees to Iraq. During the workshop a Manual for Returnees Registration was drafted in order to unify the process in all MoDM s RRCs and Branches. In addition improving MoDM s reporting on Returnees and opening communication channels between MoDM s Out of Country Office in Damascus and the Ministry s Head Quarters in Baghdad where discussed. IOM and MoDM staff at the workshop held at IOM office in Beirut As the pressure on the Returnees Registration Center (RRC) for the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) is increasing and the need to unify the data collection, processing and dissemination has emerged; IOM and MoDM have established a phase II of the Data Management project. As part of the preparation for phase II, a three-day workshop was held at IOM s Office in Beirut during the first week of February Following the workshop in one month time MoDM completed and approved the Manual for Returnees Registration. It is expected that IOM will continue working with MoDM on implementation of improvements in data management process and staff training at headquarters and Branch Office level including Returnee Centers.

3 Page 3 Launch of PHSS Phase II Meetings were held in Baghdad March 2 nd and 3 rd between IOM senior staff and Iraqi officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) to discuss a work plan for phase II of PHSS and discuss lessons learned from the pilot phase January 31st. A meeting was held between IOM PHSS staff and MoLSA officials in Baghdad on the 2 nd of March 2009 to discuss and review the pilot phase of PHSS. This included mapping implementing guidelines for the second phase taking into consideration the lessons learned from the pilot phase. The MoLSA partners expressed enthusiasm towards expanding direct implementation as well as service areas including on-job-trainings, psycho-social assistance and referrals in addition to the in-kind grants, community assistance projects and vocational trainings which PHSS had offered during the pilot phase. A second meeting was held between IOM PHSS staff and MoDM officials in Baghdad on the 3 rd of March 2009 in which IOM staff offered MoDM officials a presentation of PHSS implementation plan and the processes of integrating returnees among beneficiaries. Both parties agreed on the mode of collaboration in the selection of returnee-beneficiaries based on pre-agreed qualification criteria, the set-up of offices and locations, as well as on joint monitoring of the activities. The parties also defined their roles in the various aspects of PHSS operations. MoDM officials were pleased that IOM included returnees among those to be given assistance and highlighted the importance of PHSS in the sustainable reintegration of returnees into their communities. Both MoLSA and MoDM officials expressed their gratitude to the Government of Germany for its funding PHSS, allowing the programme to continue providing services to returnees, unemployed, under-employed and other vulnerable groups in Iraq. Top, MoDM Minister at PHSS Phase II opening ceremony in Baghdad, February Bottom, MoDM Minister and Deputy German Ambassador at PHSS Phase II opening ceremony. Training for DAFEC Baghdad & Basra Staff in the Czech Republic A second study tour to the Czech Republic for six border officers at the Data Analysis and Forensic Examination Centre (DAFEC) took place from January 12 th ot the 16 th The earlier training took place late November for six border officers assigned to work in the Basra airport. The objectives of this training initiative are to enhance the capacity of Government of Iraq to effectively collect and analyse migration data and to share this through a travel document database; to equip the Iraqi DAFEC staff based in Basra with training methodologies, approaches and experiences particular to their needs for travel document analysis, in areas of data gathering, sharing, terminology, risk assessment, profiling and portrait identification of passengers. In particular they are now able to work with a document database, are familiar with passenger profiling and portrait identification, and have some useful starting points to design and develop a systematic document database for both DAFEC Baghdad and Basrah. These capacity building activites are under IOM s Capacity Building in Integrated Border Management at the Southern Borders of Iraq Programme (CBIBM). As a result, 12 DAFEC staff were trained and equipped with skills and knowledge in the area of collection and analysis of migration data and they have taken a major step towards being ready to put their skills into practice.

4 Page 4 IOM Assists Unaccompanied Iraqi Child be Reunited with Family Early March 2009 IOM s Regional Operations Center (ROC) and IOM Helsinki assisted an unaccompanied Iraqi minor to return from Sweden to his parents in Hilla city south of Baghdad. IOM came to know about the child when the Swedish migration authorities contacted IOM for assistance to facilitate the return of the minor. The child s parents are thankful to IOM for reuniting them with their son and for facilitating his safe return to Iraq. The child was separated from his mother during a journey to Germany in He then ended up in Sweden where he was hosted by an Iraqi family in Sweden. He was assigned a legal guardian by the Swedish authorities to take care of his asylum application which was finally denied. IOM staff and child. The child s face is blurred for his protection. Training Course for Family Members with Disabled Children in Kirkuk IOM s Internally Displaced Persons Programme implemented a training course for 150 family members with disabled children in Kirkuk from January 5 th to February 28th. Participants attended a five-day training in which they learned about the cause of the disability, the nature of the disability, and the impact of this disability on the child himself, his family and the community. suffering and a deterioration of their health and wellbeing. Offering proper support at home aims to reduce children s suffering and to better equip parents to identify and respond to their children s needs as well as nourish their ability to develop and grow. Three specialized doctors and five physiotherapists offered theoretical and practical training sessions. Theoretical sessions for parents included lectures on how to deal with a child with cerebral palsy disability such as; what kind of care should be provided at home in respect of feeding, personal hygiene, movement, psychological support and how to train the child to communicate. Practical sessions, including children and parents, offered guidance on how to do proper physiotherapy and exercises at home. IOM staff assessed that the majority of families with disabled children in Kirkuk did not go to the nearest rehabilitation center regularly because of financial difficulties. This led to the children s increased Top; local therapist working with one of the children. Bottom; some of the participating children and parents in Kirkuk.

5 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION IOM Iraq Ongoing Programmes Content and design done by Muna F. Fadhil Communication Focal Point International Organization for Migration - Iraq Mission Marriot & Asem Ajlouni Street - Hamzeh Complex / Amman Jordan mfadhil@iom.int P.O.Box Amman Jordan Phone: Donor Governments Capacity Building in Integrated Border Management Programme (CBIBMP): CBIBM at the Southern Borders of Iraq aims to establish a replicable Integrated Border Management System by incorporating approaches from best international practices. Capacity Building in Migration Management Programme (CBMMP): The Programme aims to assist Iraqi authorities to further define and align inter ministerial roles and responsibilities in the field of migration, assess needs, develop institutional relationships, coordinate international assistance, and respond to immediate needs of concerned ministries. Ministry of Displacement and Migration Capacity Building Programme (MoDM CBP): MoDM CBP aims to support MoDM through various forms of intervention. Based upon the direct requests for assistance by the Ministry, the Programme seeks to assist in developing its institutional framework as well as providing the tools for day to day functions. The Internally Displaced Persons & Returnees Programme (IDP): The IDP Programme covers the following four main and inseparable activities in Iraq: (I) assess and monitor displacment and return movements, needs and durable solutions; (II) support the implementation of Quick Impact Projects/Community Assistance Projects (QIPs/CAPs) for IDPs and their host communities; (III) provide emergency food and non-food items to the most vulnerable IDPs; (IV) provide (re)integration assistance and durable solutions. The Programme for Human Security and Stabilization in Iraq (PHSS): The aim of PHSS is to put into place a functioning mechanism that supports the empowerment of local structures to deliver multi-sector services to the unemployed, the under-employed, returnees and disadvantaged communities ravaged by the conflict. The IOM Security Awareness Induction Training (SAIT): SAIT provides pre-departure security training for all UN and some international NGO staff as well as members of diplomatic missions prior to their deployment to Iraq. Regional Operations Centre (ROC): The Regional Operations Centre is the coordination body overseeing and coordinating the IOM activities as well as developing policies concerning movements of Iraqi nationals (Assisted Voluntary Return AVR) and third country nationals stranded in Iraq (TCN). Medical Programme: IOM s Medical Programme matches Iraqi patients in need of urgent medical attention with pro-bono medical assistance provided by hospitals in the region and aboard and evacuates them for treatment.