Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is pleased to
have the opportunity to address the Committee on the Report of the
High Commissioner for Refugees on questions relating to refugees,
returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions.

Mr. Chairman,

As the High Commissioner highlighted in his report, the causes
of displacement, and human mobility in general, are becoming
increasingly intertwined and the traditional notions of
“voluntary” and “forced” must today be
nuanced, as the lines between economic and political reasons for
moving are harder to distinguish.  Movements caused directly
or indirectly by climate change and environmental degradation have
added further complexity to an already complicated landscape. The
growing global challenge is how to successfully and humanely manage
migration while ensuring international protection for refugees.
Whether one uses the term “mixed migration flows” or
simply “migration” to describe the situation, the need
to find innovative responses grows more pressing as the numbers
rise.  And that zone where asylum and migration share a common
and often perilous path, and which is in a state of flux, is one of
the main areas where cooperation between UNHCR and IOM has
continued to evolve over the past year.

The situation in the Gulf of Aden with all its operational
challenges is a good illustration of recent cooperative
arrangements.  UNHCR and IOM together created and co-chaired
the Mixed Migration Task Force (MMTF) under the auspices of the
Protection Cluster for Somalia.  Several UN agencies and
international NGOs with key roles to play in addressing the
population movements in that part of the world are active
participants.  UNHCR's first regional workshop on mixed
migration flows, held in Sana'a in May, recognized the Task Force
as a model of good practice in cooperation, urging its
replication.

Taking the lessons learnt from this first regional meeting, IOM
and UNHCR are currently planning the next in the mixed migration
regional workshop series – to take place in November in Dakar
– in full partnership.  Our two organizations are
convening it jointly, along with ECOWAS, and the Director General
of IOM plans to deliver a keynote address there at the suggestion
of UNHCR.  Thereafter, in early December, in the context of
IOM's International Dialogue on Migration at the IOM Council, there
will be a session devoted to a discussion of mixed migration flows
from a migration management perspective. The High Commissioner will
be participating in that discussion, further consolidating our
existing collaboration.  A collaboration which of course
extends to working together in the field where the mixed flows
actually arrive: the island of Lampedusa, for example, is often
cited as a model, with UNHCR, IOM, the Italian Red Cross and the
Italian Government joining hands to assist migrants reaching
Italian shores from across the Mediterranean.

Mr. Chairman,

Meeting the needs of the internally displaced is another field
where cooperation between IOM and UNHCR has continued to
evolve.  In the context of the humanitarian reform, we work
closely together in the IASC and are co-leads of the cluster on
Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM).   IOM
performs the role of global cluster lead for camp coordination and
management in IDP situations resulting from natural disasters, for
which UNHCR has the corresponding lead in situations of
conflict-induced displacement. This joint approach is facilitating
the building of partnerships and synergies at both the central and
field levels with greater coordination and collaboration.

The IASC has also recently begun to focus on displacement as a
result of climate change and environmental degradation, be it
internal or cross border. The nexus between climate change,
environmental degradation and population movements being a topic to
which IOM has devoted considerable policy and research efforts over
the past few years, we offered to host a number of workshops among
concerned humanitarian agencies to consider terminology, typologies
and operational gaps. These consultations pave the way for formal
discussion at the next IASC Working Group meeting in Rome in
November and will contribute to the broader issue of humanitarian
action and climate change.

Alongside new challenges such as these, however, we must not
lose sight of nearly sixty years of working together productively
and successfully on third country resettlement and voluntary
repatriation.  Over the years, millions of refugees have
benefited from a smooth operational cooperation between our two
institutions in these areas.  We remain committed to ensuring
our capacity to deliver while ready to explore new ways to address
changing demands.  We also value our participation in the
Resettlement Working Group and will seek to support the growing
number of countries willing to participate in this international
burden sharing effort in any appropriate way that we can.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, let me assure the Committee of IOM's
commitment to pursue a mutually respectful and collaborative
partnership between our respective Organizations.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.