A group of 192 internally displaced and vulnerable families are
moving into new homes that they helped build with support from IOM
and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The two bedroom homes, located in the Pacific port city of
Tumaco in Nariño Department, are part of a new planned
community with roads and sidewalks, electricity, water and sewer
services, and a park. 

Tumaco has seen many of its residents forcibly displaced by
natural disasters and illegal armed groups who use the area as a
trans-shipment corridor for the narcotics trade.  According to
government figures, there are 16,405 internally displaced persons
in the municipality.

"I finally have my own home to raise my four children!" exclaims
Mariela Magón, who lost her home and belongings following
last year's floods.  "My children now have a park to play in,
and we have brick walls and cement floors that will keep us safe
from the elements."

The project, which is directly benefitting 800 people, was
carried out with funding from USAID and with the technical support
and management from IOM. It also received the backing of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, of the President's
Agency for Social Action and International Cooperation
(Acción Social) and the Mayor's Office of Tumaco, whilst the
residents took part in the construction process.

IOM's partners provided the new residents with kitchen kits; a
government programme provided cash grants to the most vulnerable
families; and The Colombian Family Welfare Institute will build two
day-care centres.

Seventy-one of the participating families had received previous
business training from IOM and Acción Social and are putting
their skills into opening micro enterprises.

According to Acción Social, more than 2.5 million
internally displaced people have been registered over the past 11
years.

For more information, please contact:

Jorge Andrés Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel. + 5715946410 Ext. 142

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@iom.int">jgallo@iom.int