Brazil, Chile, and Argentina accepted 111 Colombian refugees of a
total of 456 resettled by IOM and its partners in 2008 from
Ecuador.

"Each year we have seen an increase in the number of countries
from the region coming forward to resettle Colombian refugees
living in Ecuador.  Resettlement in South America makes
integration much easier for Colombian refugees due to the
similarity in culture, climate and social structures; and in the
case of Argentina and Chile, because of the language.  IOM is
proud to be a part of the international support Colombian refugees
are receiving," said Alejandro Guidi, IOM Chief of Mission in
Ecuador.

Since 2003, IOM Ecuador has been working on refugee resettlement
programmes in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  The Programme
began with the United States and Canada; gradually Brazil, Chile,
Argentina, Sweden, the Netherlands, Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand,
and Norway began accepting Colombian refugees in Ecuador.

This month, the Government of Uruguay conducted an assessment
mission in Ecuador to determine the possibility of becoming a
resettlement country.

After UNHCR refers a case to a resettlement country and the
country agrees to receive the refugee, IOM begins the travel
arrangements, which include medical examinations and required
vaccinations; securing travel documents and visas; lodging prior to
departure; cultural orientation training; IOM escorts for
unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable persons; reception and
assistance on departure and arrival; and in the case of in the case
of the United States, IOM conducts an extensive interview with the
refugees.

Ecuador is the country with the highest number of Colombian
refugees. Since 2000, UNHCR figures confirm 68,544 Colombian asylum
seekers in Ecuador; 20,649 have been awarded refugee status. 
In the past six years, IOM has assisted in the resettlement of
2,600 Colombian refugees from Ecuador.

For more information, please contact:

Ana Guzman

IOM Ecuador

Tel:  + (593-2) 225-3948

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