Direct assistance, protection services and health

IOM Djibouti provides assistance services to migrants in vulnerable situation through IOM’s shelters in Djibouti, and the Migration Response Center (MRC) in Obock. Those services include food, safe shelter, referrals to legal aid, child protection services, family tracing, access to healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support. The IOM clinic at the MRC provides tailored health services and referrals.

IOM Djibouti further addresses the immediate needs of vulnerable migrants and host communities along the migratory route by providing tailored and gender-sensitive dignity kits including non-food and hygiene items, adapted to different profiles.

In close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Djibouti, IOM supports health and hygiene structures benefitting both the migrants and the host communities.

IOM assistance services are not only helping in meeting migrants’ personal needs but also in easing strain on local resources of the host community, promoting inclusivity and community resilience.

Search and rescue, mobile patrol, dead body management and missing migrants

Migrants traveling via irregular pathways along the Eastern Route face grave risks, including severe weather conditions, dehydration, shipwrecks; often culminating in tragic fatalities. Consequently, numerous dead bodies are discovered along the migratory routes and the shores of Djibouti. IOM collaborates closely with the national and local authorities as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross to support the first-line responders.

IOM Djibouti provides urgent medical care and vital assistance through distributions of food and water to vulnerable migrants in remote areas via a medical mobile patrol in the north of the country, near Obock and the Lac Assal. Furthermore, IOM Djibouti and the Djibouti Red Crescent signed a partnership agreement to strengthen humanitarian assistance, including a medical mobile patrol, in the southern region of the country. IOM also contributes to ensure access to water along the migratory corridors.

To contribute to save lives at sea, IOM Djibouti works with the Djiboutian Coast Guard to optimize their technical and material capacities in terms of search and rescue operations.

Displacement Tracking Matrix

IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is operational in Djibouti to gather, analyze and disseminate critical, multi-layered information on the mobility drivers and trends, vulnerabilities and needs of migrants on the move that enables decision-makers and responding partners to implement evidence-based and tailored interventions.

All the DTM dashboards for Djibouti can be found on the DTM website.

Migration, Environment and Climate Change

IOM Djibouti develops knowledge and awareness on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (MECC), to support the Government of the Republic of Djibouti in integrating environmental migration into governmental strategies. Civil society, and especially youth, are also engaged in addressing challenges and seize opportunities related to MECC.

IOM operates a plastic recycling unit, La Fabrick, together with the local authorities and community in Obock. This initiative addresses environmental concerns by reducing plastic waste while providing economic opportunities for the host community’s most vulnerable members through Cash-for-Work and income-generating activities programming.

Building resilience for the host community

To support Djibouti’s host community in facing the challenges brought by migration, IOM Djibouti implements income-generating activities and cash for work initiatives, in collaboration with the government and local authorities. To support the health sector which is particularly impacted by the needs to adapt to an increasing demand in term of medical assistance, IOM also works with the health structures through donations and rehabilitation benefiting both the host community and migrant population along the Eastern corridor.  

Migration Governance

IOM Djibouti works closely with the National Coordination Office for Migration to develop strategies and action plans, as well as across ministries on topics related to migration governance, with the aim to address the challenges and harness the opportunities of migration and cross-border mobility.

Labour Migration and Social Inclusion

Djibouti is part of the Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration (RMFM), bringing together 11 States from East and Horn of Africa Region to jointly address labour migration policies, foster labour mobility and protect the fundamental human, labour, and social rights of migrant workers migrating within the continent and from Africa to European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council Member States and other countries. In addition, the Djiboutian Ministry of Labour is part of the IOM’s Global Policy Network to address recruitment-related challenges and share best practices in policy and regulation enforcement.

IOM Djibouti also facilitates labour migration opportunities for Djiboutian youth.

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration

Through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, migrants are supported and accompanied by IOM through different stages in order to return to their countries of origin. In coordination with the IOM receiving missions, reintegration support is provided to migrants in vulnerable situation, including unaccompanied migrant children, survivors of Gender-Based Violence, survivors of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Resettlement Assistance

Resettlement is an international protection tool which meets the specific needs of refugees and other vulnerable persons of concern. Resettlement is also a durable solution for refugees as well as a demonstration of international solidarity and responsibility-sharing with countries hosting large numbers of refugees.  In Djibouti, IOM works closely with governments, UNHCR, NGOs and other partners, such as airlines and airport authorities, to enable resettlement.

Accountability to Affected Populations

Feedback from individuals and communities supported by IOM as well as other stakeholders is crucial in shaping the organization’s projects and activities. IOM has established mechanisms to gather their insights in order to ensure that all initiatives respond and are tailored to their needs.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and sexual Harassment (PSEAH)

IOM has a policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse by IOM staff members and the employees or any other persons engaged and controlled by IOM Contractors. IOM Djibouti is committed to ensure PSEAH in all its areas of work.

Cross-cutting priorities

IOM Djibouti also implements the organization’s cross-cutting priorities, as define in its Strategic Plan:

- Integrity, Transparency and Accountability

- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

- Protection-centred Approaches

- Environmental Sustainability