Addis Ababa - During his first official visit to Ethiopia, 6-9 August 2019, Denmark’s recently appointed Minister for Development Cooperation, H.E. Rasmus Prehn, visited IOM Ethiopia to discuss cooperation in migration management, and return and reintegration activities.

Minister Prehn, and other senior officials, who included H.E. Karin Poulsen, Ambassador of Denmark to Ethiopia, and Ms. Trine Rask Thygesen, State Secretary for Development Cooperation, met with Ms. Maureen Achieng, Chief of Mission, IOM Ethiopia, and visited the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Transit Centre in Addis Ababa, which is supported by the Embassy of Denmark, among other donors.

For Ethiopian returnees, the IOM Transit Centre is a critical starting point for a new beginning, following arduous migration journeys. The center welcomes returnees and provides them with tailored post-arrival support to facilitate their dignified return, and to help them rebuild their lives.

After meeting some returnees who are currently accommodated in the centre Minster Prehn said, “It has been very interesting to visit the IOM transit centre and learn about the important task of reintegrating migrants.

I was moved by the personal stories which all stressed the importance of IOM’s work and am pleased to see that Danish support contributes to giving vulnerable people a safe welcome and a new start.”

Ms Achieng said she appreciated the support extended by Denmark and sensed, “their keen interest in better understanding the migration challenges and desire to help devise more effective solutions.”

Ethiopia is at the centre of mixed migration dynamics in the Horn of Africa, which drive thousands of young migrants every year on mostly irregular journeys that follow either the Eastern route to the Middle East, mostly to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); the Southern route to Southern Africa, mostly to the Republic of South Africa; and the North-Western route to Europe.

In 2018, IOM assisted 10,545 returnees at the transit centre, with another 10,512 assisted up to 31 July 2019.

For more information please contact:

Malambo Moonga, IOM Ethiopia, MMOONGA@iom.int, +251-11 557 1707 (Ext. 1427).