Mali govt, IOM launch psychological support to ensure sustainable reintegration in communities

The government of Mali in association with the International Organization for Migration helped over 11,000 Malians since 2017 to voluntarily return home. However, many of them suffered difficulty in travelling including other risks along the Central Mediterranean Route. The senior officials at International Organization for Migration have experienced that they often require psychological support to ensure sustainable reintegration within their communities.

"The protection of migrants, wherever they are, has always been a priority for International Organization for Migration. This protection involves immediate humanitarian assistance for returning migrants along migration routes, but also post-arrival psychosocial support," Pascal Reyntjens International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission in Mali opined. "But we must provide 'psychological support' to these individuals before we talk about their economic reintegration," Reyntjens added.

The Government of Mali, IOM and the Swiss Confederation State Secretariat for Migration unveiled the project 'Support to the Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees in Mali' through psychosocial assistance, which is likely to reach over 5,000 beneficiaries in the main regions of return including Bamako, Kita, and Kayes, ReliefWeb (via IOM) noted.

The USD 280,000 project aims to support the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants in their families and communities of origin through the provision of care; training of social actors and medical workers in the country; the development of information and awareness-raising campaigns; as well as workshops on theatre, artistic creation and sport for psychosocial support.

In light of the significant returns of migrants in distress and vulnerable situations, this project comes at the very right time. It strengthens the Government's actions for the Malian returnees' protection and reintegration, the capacity building of civil society organizations, and a better understanding of migration dynamics and immigration trends in Mali in line with the National Migration Policy (PONAM)," said Tangara Nema Guindo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Malians Abroad and African Integration.

However, the IOM and the Government of Mali, since May 2017, have implemented the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration which has supported 11,505 Malians stranded along the migratory routes to Algeria or Libya to voluntarily return home in decent conditions, and with respect for their fundamental rights.

Also Read: World Bank Africa's VP Hafez Ghanem pledges more financial support to reduce poverty in Ghana