Conakry – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Guinea and its partners inaugurated on 18 April 2019 in Conakry, the Guinean capital, the first reception, transit and counselling centre for returned migrants in the country.  

This centre with a 300-person capacity accommodates migrants who have returned voluntarily to Guinea through IOM’s EU-funded Assisted Voluntary Return Programme and provides them with basic assistance to meet their immediate needs. They will be accommodated for a maximum period of 48 hours, which can be extended for the most vulnerable cases. A shelter for women and children is also provided.

“This reception centre is helpful for migrants as we were used to wait a long time at the airport after a long journey and the stress of arrival. With this centre, you can have a bath, and get food as soon as you arrive. You have a quiet mind; you can answer all questions; and then you will have information about IOM reintegration process and assistance,” said Abdourahmane, a Guinean migrant who returned from Niger in March 2018.

Upon arrival at the centre, returned migrants will be provided with a welcome kit containing hygienic products and receive food. They can be offered psychosocial and/or medical cares. A mobile phone and pocket money are also distributed to migrants before they return to their home town.

The short stay in the centre is an opportunity to inform returned migrants of the social and economic reintegration opportunities available. Counselling sessions on associative life and entrepreneurship will also be conducted. A tailored reintegration project will be developed for the most vulnerable, children, victims of trafficking, sick migrants, mothers with children, pregnant women, and the elderly persons.

“This centre perfectly symbolizes the synergy of action between the Guinean Government, international donors and the United Nations through IOM. The establishment of this centre is an important step in the implementation of the Global Compact on Migration recommendations recently adopted by the Government of Guinea,” said Patrice Vahard, the United Nations Interim Resident Coordinator in Guinea.

Controlled by the Guinean State, the centre will be managed by the Ministry of Social Action and the Ministry of Territorial Administration through SENAH, with the technical and financial support of IOM. In the first year, functional and operating costs will be supported by IOM and the Government, while the Guinean State is expected to fully manage it at the end of this period.

Guinea is one of the top three countries of return in West Africa, with Nigeria and Mali. Since 2017, more than 11,000 Guineans have been assisted to voluntary return.

The center was built under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration, funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and through the project, “Security, Support and Solution for Migrants along the Central Mediterranean Route” funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

The inauguration which took place in the Clinic John Paul II premises was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Guineans Based Abroad and special representative of the Prime Minister, Mr. Mamadi TOURÉ, the Ministry of Social Action, Women and Child Promotion, Mrs. Mariama SYLLA, the Ambassador of Great Britain to Guinea, Mrs. Catherine INGLEHEARN, the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Guinea, Mr. Josep COLL, the United Nations Interim Resident Coordinator in Guinea, Mr. Patrice VAHARD, IOM Guinea’s Chief of Mission, Mrs. Ndiaye Fatou Diallo, and representatives of the financial partners (EU and DFID) as well as those of the relevant Ministries and the UN Agencies teams.

For more information, please contact Lucas Chandellier at IOM Guinea: Email: lchandellier@iom.in