A one-year pilot project is providing vital reintegration
assistance to Haitian migrants who are returned to Haiti.

A USD 1 million grant from the United Nations Development
Programme as part of USAID's Poverty Reduction Strategy, is
allowing IOM Port-au-Prince to provide support to Haitian migrants
who have been expelled from various countries, the vast majority
from the United States.

The project provides for immediate assistance upon arrival and
for psychosocial support which includes individual sessions to
develop career options and re-orient returnees that have lived
outside of Haiti for many years. Vocational training for those in
need of new skills to secure jobs or to set up in self-employment
and specific training to establish small and micro-enterprises is
also provided.

Those interested in setting up a small business develop a
project proposal and, if accepted, receive financial support for a
maximum of USD 2,000, 70 per cent as a grant and 30 per cent as a
low-interest loan. Poultry breeding, cyber cafés, bakeries,
restaurants, and plumbing services, are some of the projects that
have been supported through the pilot project.

Since October 2006, 350 of the 650 migrants who have been sent
back to Haiti have registered with IOM and are participating in the
pilot project. So far 94 have received psychosocial counselling and
have benefited from orientation sessions with social workers; 37
have completed training and 14 micro-enterprises have been
established, individually or in groups while 57 others completed
trainings and will receive funding for 37 group and individual
micro-enterprises.

Maureen Achieng, IOM Chief of Mission in Port-au-Prince says one
of the main challenges for the returnees is being accepted by
society: "One of the greatest obstacles we face when working to
reintegrate Haitians who have been returned is overcoming the
stigma in Haitian society. The ‘deportee' label is one of the
main hurdles we need to overcome for a successful
reintegration."

A nationwide information campaign to reduce social stigma
includes: radio spots urging the public to welcome returnees,
information briefings for the media, civil society and religious
leaders; a documentary to educate the Haitian public on the
problems returnees encounter, and a planned workshop for government
and civil society on ways to reintegrate returned migrants into
Haitian society.

According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 196,707
individuals were removed from the United States in 2006.

"This pilot project is providing vital assistance, but much more
needs to be done," explains Achieng. "For instance there are
currently no proper premises in Port-au-Prince to welcome those who
have been expelled. We also need to be able to provide temporary
housing for those who may lack family ties and have no place to
stay. We also need to give pre-departure support to migrants so
they can contact their families in Haiti before they are sent back.
"

IOM is involved in similar programmes in Central America.
Working with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and
Honduras, IOM and its partners provide immediate humanitarian
assistance upon arrival to migrants being returned to those
countries.

For further information please contact:

Niurka Piñeiro

IOM Washington, DC

Tel: +202 862 1826 x225

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