A new centre which will collect, manage and analyse migration data
in a bid to help the Sudanese government manage migration to,
through and from Sudan safely and orderly, has officially opened in
the capital, Khartoum.

The centre, which has been set up with IOM assistance, will
provide support to the government through its Secretariat of
Sudanese Working Abroad (SSWA) by initially developing a migration
profile for Sudan.

The profile will help distil information and data on migration
issues in Africa's largest country which has millions of internally
displaced people and refugees in neighbouring countries. It will
also provide a clearer idea of migration patterns and trends in
Sudan. 

In addition, the centre will also produce research papers and
run training courses on migration issues. A library and a website
will supply a wide variety of migration-related information to
government officials, academics, students, non-governmental
organizations, diaspora organizations and others.

Funded by IOM's 1035 Facility, a fund designed to respond
rapidly and flexibly to important migration challenges faced by
IOM's developing member states and member states with economy in
transition, the centre represents the long-term and sustainable
development in migration research in Sudan, improved border
management, supporting safe migration and strengthening of the
government's capacity on migration issues.

For further information, please contact:

IOM Sudan Public Information Office

Tel:  +249 (0) 183 57 08 01

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