Honduras - The Scalabrinian Sisters Association, which is this week celebrating its 25th anniversary in Honduras, has recognized IOM for its “permanent and unconditional support for the migrant population.” 

The ceremony was led by the Apostolic Nuncio in Honduras, Monsignor Novatus Rugambwa, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez, and other officials of the Catholic Church, including Provincial Superior of the Order of Scalabrinianas Sandra Pinheiro, and director of the Returned Migrant Care Centre (CAMR) in Honduras Sister Valdette Willeman. IOM Chief of Mission in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Jorge Peraza Breedy represented IOM.

During the ceremony, the Scalabrinian Association also recognized the special volunteers from the Care of Migrants Pastoral and returning migrants committed to the promotion of human rights.

“The work that the Scalabrinian Sisters Association has done in these 25 years has been essential for the development of human rights in Honduras. With you, vulnerable populations in this country have had a strategic ally that has contributed to the promotion, guarantee and fulfilment of their fundamental rights. We reiterate our commitment to the most vulnerable mobile populations, to the children, adolescents and migrant women and reaffirm our willingness to continue working shoulder to shoulder with you,” said Peraza Breedy.

According to the Institute of Social and Economic Research of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (IIES-UNAH), it is estimated that in the last 14 years, nearly 700,000 Hondurans have returned to the country from the north of the continent. Of these, more than half have returned by air from the United States.

The alliance between IOM and the Scalabrinian Sisters began in 2002 with the construction and equipping of the first Returned Migrant Care Center (CAMR) in Tegucigalpa. This provides humanitarian assistance to some 900 migrants returning to Honduras each month, providing primary health care and medicines, hygiene kits, food, clothing and transportation.

IOM also supports the Casa del Migrante in Ocotepeque, which was established in 2010 and is the only shelter providing assistance to migrants on Honduras’ western border. It focuses on helping children, adolescents and pregnant women. IOM has provided food, medicine, equipment, furniture and specialized training for staff working in the centre.

In 2016, IOM also completed the remodelling and refurbishing of the CAMR in San Pedro Sula. It provides technical support to partners providing post-arrival assistance to returned migrants, and capacity building in the provision of psychosocial care, identifying vulnerable cases and prevention of human trafficking.

For more information, please contact Karen Arita at IOM Honduras, Tel: +504.2237.7460, Email: karita@iom.int. Or Alba Miriam Amaya at IOM El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Tel: +503.2521.0556, Email: aamaya@iom.int