IOM Trains Local Partners to Improve Conditions for Displaced in Northern CAR

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Central African Republic - IOM, in collaboration with the Association des Femmes pour la Promotion de l'Entrepreneuriat (AFPE), has organized trainings in site facilitation and site management for internally displaced people in Ouham prefecture in northern Central African Republic (CAR).

Since May 2014, IOM has led the coordination of humanitarian agencies working with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Ouham sub-prefectures of Kabo and Moyenne Sido.

A total of 60 participants from local government, local chapters of the CAR Red Cross (CRCA) and IDP committee members attended the four-day workshops held in Kabo and in Moyenne Sido in the last week of February.

The trainings focused on IDP site facilitation and management, protection, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), child protection and assistance to people with special needs.

In addition, the participants were trained in identifying protection needs and vulnerability, recognizing risk factors, and how to handle, store and disseminate personal data in a confidential way, based on IOM's data protection principles.

The trainings were conducted as part of a project funded by the UN CERF, which aims to improve the provision of humanitarian assistance in displacement sites. The project is the second funded by CERF specifically targeting relocated IDPs and other vulnerable host community members.

IOM has been working with local chapters of the CRCA on identification and referral of protection cases, including unaccompanied and separated children, older persons, people living with disability and people with severe health issues.

Through this project IOM seeks to assist in establishing functioning local communication and representation structures at displacement sites through the engagement of local IDP committees, and women and youth empowerment groups, ensuring the representation of all IDPs.

Since May 2014, other areas of collaboration with the CRCA include site facilitation, registration of IDPs, site cleaning and community sensitization on hygiene practices.

On 01 February 2014, IOM signed agreements with the two local chapters of the CRCA in Kabo and Moyenne Sido to take over the facilitation and management of the two IDP sites in Kabo and Moyenne Sido respectively.

“IOM support is aimed at strengthening local capacity in managing and monitoring displaced people. The National Red Cross Society will play a key role as a relief institution,” said Samuel Namguida, the President of the CRCA's Kabo chapter.

IOM CAR has been active in the humanitarian response to IDP needs through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), which helps to collect and analyze data on IDP needs in Bangui, Boda, Kabo and Moyenne Sido. Reports highlighting urgent needs and gaps in the response are shared with partners in the protection and CCCM/shelter clusters.