In August 2011, nearly 500 Ethiopian migrants were registered in
Bossaso, one of the largest ports in the Puntland State of Somalia.
Thousands of displaced persons from drought-affected South-Central
Somalia also reside in makeshift camps scattered across the region.

Migrants and displaced persons are amongst the poorest and most
vulnerable in Bossaso. Arriving empty-handed and living in extreme
poverty, they have limited access to water, food and health
care.

Over the last two months, IOM has provided over 300 migrants and
the displaced persons in Bossaso with fishing equipment and fishery
skills training. The programme aimed to enable the beneficiaries to
develop sustainable livelihood opportunities. In Garowe, the
capital of Puntland region, 600 migrants, the displaced and host
community women will also benefit from the newly refurbished
Central Garowe Market supported by IOM.

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Women and Children in Somalia

In the health sector, IOM and local partners are sensitizing
vulnerable populations on HIV and sexual and gender-based violence
with 301 peer educators trained across Somalia in 2011. Funded by
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, IOM is also providing micro-finance
training and peer support groups for HIV positive persons in
Somalia.

But the needs are still immense. Hussein Hassan, IOM’s
health coordinator in Somalia states: "The need is vast;
psychosocial support, clean water, shelter and a comprehensive
migrant-friendly health care package must be offered for the most
vulnerable."

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supports a
centre established jointly by IOM and the authorities to register
new migrants, provide referrals and to offer a space for advocacy
and migrant rights awareness.

The centre, which is called Bossaso Migration Response Centre,
is funded by the Government of Japan, the Government of Switzerland
and the US Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees,
and Migration (PRM).

Two additional Migration Response Centres are operational in
Hargeisa, Somaliland and Obock, in Djibouti.

To see a slide show of the story, please visit: "http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/media/photo-stories/lang/en">http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/media/photo-stories/lang/en.

For other information please contact:

Celeste Hibbert

IOM Kenya

Tel: +254 20 444 4174, +254 20 444 4167

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

or

Issac Munyae

IOM Puntland State of Somalia

Tel: +252 900078

E-mail: "mailto:imunyae@iom.int%20">imunyae@iom.int