The new director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, has chosen the African continent and more precisely Ethiopia for her first international trip. For two days, the first woman in this position visited the headquarters of the African Union and a transit center. She shared her program and priorities with the media on site.
1 min
With our correspondent in Addis Ababa, Clothilde Hazard
IOM is present in all regions of Ethiopia, the first destination chosen by Amy Pope. 4.4 million people displaced within its territory. The first cause: regional and international conflicts, which are also a security challenge for migrants.
“ Coming home should be synonymous with safety and reunion with family, said Amy Pope. For us, it is therefore above all a question of ensuring that migrants benefit from concrete protection and humanitarian aid, as they return. Likewise, in relation to what is happening in Sudan and the desperation of many people crossing the country, we are ensuring that people cross in a safe environment. »
The new director wishes to highlight the economic potential represented by immigration to obtain new international financial support. “ We are looking for partnerships with development banks. But also in the private sector. The private sector benefits from well-managed migration. When we look at the evolution of demographics in the world, it is the private sector which will find itself lacking in labor. »
Amy Pope also placed climate change as a major factor in migration at the top of her agenda. Over the last 10 years in sub-Saharan Africa alone, more than 7 million people have emigrated because of climatic disasters.