Panamanian President Martin Torrijos this week visited IOM projects
near the Panamanian-Colombian border.

The President’s visit to Jaque, in the Panamanian province
of Darien, included the inauguration of an IOM-sponsored water
project that will benefit more than 1,300 Colombians and the local
population. The project, located in a World War II bunker built by
the US Army, will provide safe water for the community through a
triple purification system.

After visiting the project, President Torrijos said,
“Thanks to IOM we have not only achieved a new water
treatment plant, but also marked improvements in the quality of
life of the residents of Darien.”

IOM began its work in Panama in October 2005 as part of a
program to assist Colombians fleeing the violence generated by
illegal armed groups operating in areas bordering Venezuela,
Ecuador and Panama.

In the past year, IOM has assisted more than 2,800 people in
Panama, 6,400 in Ecuador and 12,000 in Venezuela.  These IOM
projects, which complement UNHCR and government efforts to support
the refugees and persons under temporary protection, include water,
sanitation, hygiene, food security, nutrition, temporary shelter,
health and education.  The program also aims to strengthen the
absorption capacity of the communities and to implement income
generation activities.

The program is being carried out through an alliance with the
Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), with financial support
of the US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), and
in coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the
respective countries, local governments, the UN and civil society
organizations.

IOM assessments of the conditions Colombians are facing in the
border areas can be found on the IOM Colombia website at: "paragraph-link-no-underline" href="http://www.oim.org.co" target=
"_blank" title="">www.oim.org.co.

For more information, please contact:

Rocio Sanz

IOM Colombia

Tel: +57.311 561 94 95 or 57.1.622 77 74 Ext. 114

Email: "mailto:rsanz@oim.org.co">rsanz@oim.org.co