IOM aids transition to recovery<\/p>\n
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an
\nindependent, intergovernmental organization comprising 109 member
\ngovernments. While the organization is based in Geneva, it is not
\na branch of the United Nations as has been frequently
\nmisreported, including by The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The IOM currently has about 200 missions around the world and
\nworks in support of host governments to meet the needs of
\nirregular migrants and internally displaced people (IDPs),
\nparticularly in conflict, post-conflict and post-disaster areas.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, the IOM has been active since the 1980s, and
\nestablished its Jakarta headquarters in 2000 -- which has grown
\nby 800 percent as of 2004 in terms of active projects. In
\nNanggroe Aceh Darussalam, the organization was present in
\nvirtually every district 1.5 years before the tsunami disaster of
\nDec. 26.<\/p>\n
During the pre-tsunami military operation in the province, the
\nIOM worked with the government in assessing how the separatist
\nconflict had affected communities and provided humanitarian
\nassistance to alleviate impacts of the conflict. At that time,
\n\"the IOM was the only international organization with a
\nsustained, comprehensive presence in Aceh\", said IOM head of
\nIndonesia Mission Stephen Cook, and as such, had a distinct
\nadvantage in responding to immediate emergency needs after the
\ntsunami, including the provision of food, water and medical care.<\/p>\n
Part of IOM's post-tsunami relief efforts in Aceh, the
\nTransitional Shelter Project aims to build 11,000 mobile shelter
\nunits on sites located in cooperation with the Ministry of Public
\nWorks. Providing shelter is an initial step to meet immediate
\nneeds as determined by the IDP families themselves, and the
\nshelter project is a holistic effort that includes livelihood
\ntraining, monitoring and other development components designed
\nfor each unique settlement community.<\/p>\n
In collaboration with partner relief organizations and
\ninternational and Indonesian non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs), other projects on the ground for the current transitional
\nperiod between the phasing out of emergency relief and the
\ngradual implementation of long-term recovery and rehabilitation
\nefforts include: building satellite health clinics at government-
\nprovided \"barracks\" for IDPs, preventive efforts to empower women
\nand heighten visibility of children against possible trafficking,
\nmarket revitalization and livelihood training\/development.<\/p>\n
Along with its livelihood development project, the shelter
\nproject is funded by 14 major donors, with the Japanese and
\nGerman governments being the largest donors of the effort to
\nprovide semi-permanent housing to IDPs.<\/p>\n
Recipient families are prioritized according to criteria that
\nidentify the most vulnerable groups, such as families with a
\nsingle head of household and more than three children, families
\nheaded by single women and families that have lost all means of
\nlivelihood. All shelter settlements are also supported by the
\nlivelihood development project.<\/p>\n
The IOM is working with the government to locate and procure
\nland -- ideally public land to avoid land rights issues that
\nmight arise during the agreed two years' inhabitation of the
\nshelter settlements.<\/p>\n
\"We have been encouraging communities to redesign or to remap
\ntheir land to provide land to the shelter project, particularly
\nas these housing units are provided free of charge (to IDPs),\"
\nsaid Aceh Besar regency head Zainin Aziz at the April 26 handover
\nceremony in Tingkeum.<\/p>\n
Aceh representative Mohyan also underlined the provincial
\ngovernment's commitment to providing land, adding: \"We were
\nespecially pleased to learn that these are environmentally
\nfriendly houses, which is in line with a moratorium to make
\n(Aceh) a green province.\"<\/p>\n
The IOM recruits local contractors -- builders, electricians
\nand plumbers -- and eight construction crews comprising about 700
\nlocal contractors and 125 IOM construction specialists are at
\nwork on six active sites in Banda Aceh, including satellite
\nhealth clinics and fabrication yards to produce specially
\ndesigned building materials.<\/p>\n
The organization estimates it will reach a production volume
\nof 300 units per week by mid-May, at which rate it will realize
\nits full 11,000-unit commitment in the province by mid-October.<\/p>\n
The Aceh Besar government estimates at least 20,000 units are
\nneeded to house 94,000 IDPs in the district, of which 7,000 are
\nunder development by various relief organizations and NGOs; the
\nnational government estimates 500,000 people in the province have
\nlost their homes.<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iom-aids-transition-to-recovery-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }