A new Primary Health Care System, designed by IOM and the United
Nation's World Food Programme (WFP), will improve the living
conditions of communities along Ecuador's northern border.

The initiative includes 10 health posts in the territory of the
Federation of Awa Indigenous Communities of Ecuador (FECAE by its
Spanish acronym), and the rehabilitation and construction of health
infrastructure to address the needs of the area's residents.

IOM will provide technical support for the infrastructure
projects and the field implementation.  WFP will provide its
technical and operational experience, including direct coordination
with FECAE to ensure their active role in the project.

The Awas are an indigenous population with ancestral roots in
the area, who follow their own customs and rules.  They are
divided by the international border – some of them live in
southern Colombia and others in Ecuador in the provinces of Carchi,
Esmeraldas and Imbabura.

Since 2001 IOM has been carrying out social and productive
infrastructure projects aimed at improving health and promoting
development in the provinces along Ecuador's northern border, with
funds from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and
in coordination with the Ecuadorian government.  The IOM
programme is helping local residents as well as Colombians crossing
into Ecuador to escape the violence.

Some 270 infrastructure projects have been built providing these
poor communities with basic services, such as potable water,
sanitation systems, and roads to improve transportation. 
These projects have benefited over 423,922 persons.

According to figures from Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign
Relations, 68,544 Colombians applied for asylum between 2000 and
2008; of this total 20,649 have been awarded refugees status.

A survey conducted in February 2008 by the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) reported an estimated 85,000 Colombians living
in communities along Ecuador's northern border.  Some 35,000
persons said they had not applied for asylum, but 70 per cent were
found to have special protection needs.

For more information contact:

Ana Guzman

IOM Ecuador

Tel:  (593-2)-225-3948

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