Highlights
To further support the Turkish Coast Guards, IOM has provided staff in Çeşme to deliver NFIs and food to rescued migrants and refugees, and is planning to do the same in Dikili. Between 21-22 March, IOM provided food, water and NFIs to 273 migrants and refugees rescued by the TCG in Çeşme.
From 15-16 March, IOM conducted a counter-trafficking training for 25 border post agents in Agadez. The training was organised by the National Agency Against Human Trafficking (NAHT) and IOM under the umbrella of IOM’s continued support to the NAHT agency.
From 15 – 23 March, IOM deployed a team of experts for an assessment mission to Greece.
The team conducted site visits to areas where migrants and refugees are currently stranded, including visits to informal and formal camps in the Thessaloniki and Attica regions and Lesvos Island. On 23 March, IOM attended the first coordination meeting in Thessaloniki chaired by the Ministry of Migration Policy where five sectoral meetings were organized: health; WASH; protection; relocation; and, NFIs. IOM together with UNHCR will co-lead the NFI sector in the Thrace and Macedonia regions of northern Greece.At the Slavonski Brod centre, migrants from Iraq and Afghanistan celebrated the New Year with the support of IOM and other humanitarian agencies. IOM promoted community work, provided crockery and decorations, and helped to develop the programme of the celebration.
On 17 March, European Union leaders reached a common position to present to Turkey for a joint agreement on migration, which was then accepted by Turkey on 18 March. The agreement went into effect on 20 March, and as a temporary and extraordinary measure, included the return of all new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into the Greek islands back to Turkey.