Madam President, Distinguished Delegates,

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomes the
opportunity to address the General Assembly and to share its views
on the Strengthening of the Coordination of Humanitarian and
Disaster Relief Assistance.  This is a topic intrinsically
characterized by collaboration and partnership with a broad range
of humanitarian actors, particularly in the areas most relevant for
IOM’s operational work: situation of population displacement
and sudden population movements.  The reports of the Secretary
General which have been prepared for this session of the General
Assembly offer a valuable opportunity to take stock of progress
made and draw lessons for the future with respect to new modalities
of working together.  In addition, the recommendations of the
Advisory Group on the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
provide important insights on the predictability and effectiveness
of the humanitarian response.

Madam President,

It is with a sense of guarded optimism that IOM recognizes that
2006 has been the year of implementation of the humanitarian reform
agenda in all its sectors: improvement of operational response
coordination, more predictable funding and devolution of certain
response functions to the field.

IOM has played its part in this reform process, taking
responsibilities for clusters performance, engaging in and
benefiting from the CERF and ensuring that relevant expertise is
planned and mobilized to the advantage of the humanitarian
coordination system in the field.

Inter-agency collaboration in the implementation of the cluster
approach within the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) is
already giving us preliminary indications of the opportunities that
lay ahead for improved coordination and coherence, if this approach
is followed consistently by all partners.

In order to increase effectiveness and exploit synergies, for
instance, and as the cluster lead for Camp Coordination and Camp
Management (CCCM) in natural disasters, IOM agreed with UNHCR, the
lead for CCCM for conflict-induced IDPs, on a unified cluster
approach at the global level for both natural disasters and
conflict-induced IDPs. This approach avoids duplication while
recognizing the primary responsibility each agency has in its
respective areas.

Presently, over one year into the “cluster approach”
we are able to see some tangible results.  In the spirit of
the unified cluster, IOM and UNHCR are performing the functions of
a virtual secretariat supporting the shared objectives of the CCCM
cluster.   Increasing external emergency networks is also
taking place to include those actors with experience and interest
in disaster response; illustrative of this is the creation of a
cluster working group for both members and non-members of the IASC
holding joint workshops and trainings to create a pool of qualified
staff readily deployable at the onset of an emergency and
facilitating increased participation of NGOs, a key requirement to
strengthen operational capacities.  Similarly, close
coordination with the IFRC, conveners for shelter responses in
natural disasters, is necessary to ensure that issues common to
both shelter and camp management/coordination are addressed.

In sum, the example above amply demonstrates that while still in
its infant stage, the cluster approach has provided a greater
collaborative, inter-agency framework stimulating a more
responsive, timely and effective mechanism both at the global and
country levels. Increased inter-operability, stronger preparedness
and more integrated training have more systematically brought
organizations and their staff together to address common challenges
and foster a shared environment.

IOM does stress that inter-agency coordination, however, cannot
hinder the response nor eclipse the key role of national partners.
The relevance of the cluster approach will be ultimately decided by
its capacity to add value to national responses, at all stages of
an emergency, including in the assessment process.

Madam President,

IOM would also like to put on record its satisfaction towards
the evolution of the CERF. In its short period of operation, IOM
has witnessed a greatly improved turn-around time for application,
leading to immediate improvement of response capacity at the field
level. Within its Rapid Response window the CERF has been
instrumental for IOM's relief activities in Côte d'Ivoire,
Sri Lanka and Timor Leste, while the under-funded emergency window
has supported important humanitarian projects in Haiti, DRC and
Zimbabwe.  The CERF can considerably aid organizations, such
as IOM, to shorten funding gaps in response to serious humanitarian
crisis. IOM trusts that the international donor community,
including non-traditional donors, will appreciate the significance
of this new mechanism and will help meet the funding target
established in the relevant resolution.

Finally we could not conclude these remarks without expressing
the Organization’s appreciation for the dedication and
commitment of the Emergency Relief Coordinator to use his tenure to
the fullest, inspiring public opinion, guiding and prioritizing the
international community response and leading the reform process. To
Mr. Egeland and to his team at OCHA, IOM renews its commitment for
a most valuable partnership.

Thank you Madam President.