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IOM Regional Office for East and Horn of Africa - December 2018 to January 2019 Bulletin

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Looking back at 2018 - the year that was

The year 2018 was an eventful one, not least because it ended with the signing of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), an initiative championed by IOM. On 1 October, we welcomed our new Director General António Vitorino. Director General, Victorino is an equally accomplished diplomat and public servant, having served as European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs and is formerly Portugal’s Minister of the Presidency and National Defense. We look forward to working under his new leadership.

As the organization continued to highlight our activities in the region, below is a recap of some of the more significant stories we covered in 2018.

Conflict still drives forced movements: On 18 October, IOM published the second migration trends analysis for the East and Horn of Africa. According to the report, “A Region on the Move: Mid-year trends report - January to June 2018”, the region witnessed significant internal and cross border displacements in the first half of 2018. Like in previous years, conflict and insecurity were key drivers of forced movements.

Fighting Ebola: As the Ebola outbreak rages in the DRC, IOM continued with a regional approach to prevention and containment efforts, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and governments.

Peace at last: In September, the region witnessed a landmark declaration of peace and friendship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, after decades of hostility.

Assistance for returnees: Within Ethiopia itself, IOM and partners provided assistance to the more than 960,000 people displaced due to conflict in Gedeo and West Guji regions. Estimate are that most of the displaced have since returned to their homes but are in need of immediate humanitarian support.

In 2019, we look forward to supporting member states to implement the GCM’s 23 objectives and respective commitments in ensuring that cross border migration, in particular, is safe and orderly. The adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, was an historic achievement by the international community.

The Compact sets out a range of principles, commitments and understandings among Member States. These include considerations of human rights, humanitarian, economic, social, development, climate change, border management and security issues affecting migrants, their countries of origin and transit as well as the communities that host them.

We are ready and committed to welcoming and assisting returning migrants to reintegrate into their communities.