A group of 28 journalists from Ethiopia, Somaliland, Puntland and
Djibouti have concluded a two-day workshop in Addis Ababa on mixed
migration flows in the Horn of Africa.

The training, which was funded by the Swiss and Japanese
Governments, aimed to further the media's understanding of
migration dynamics in the region, with a view to promoting
partnerships for informed and balanced reporting on the realities
of mixed migration.

"Participating journalists showed a tremendous interest in
reporting migration related issues," says Odile Robert, IOM's mixed
migration programme officer. "They voiced their commitment to work
with IOM to raise awareness of the needs of migrants and to
advocate through their reporting on the dangers of irregular
migration."

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers
make the hazardous journey from their place of origin through
Somalia, the region of Puntland state, Somaliland, Djibouti and
onwards across the Gulf of Aden. These individuals, driven by
political unrest and extreme poverty face not only dangers at sea
but also physical risks, harassment and discrimination during their
journey on land.

This workshop is part of a broader IOM programme to strengthen
the protection of, and emergency assistance to, irregular migrants
and asylum seekers from Somalia and Ethiopia who travel through
Somaliland, Puntland and Djibouti.

For additional information, please contact:

Odile Robert

IOM Nairobi

Tel: +25420 4444 174

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

or

Liyunet Demsis

IOM Addis Ababa

Tel: +251 11 551 96 65

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