International Development Law Organization

Launch of IDP and refugee project on World Refugee Day

In Somalia, more than 2.1 million people are displaced, both in the country and hosted as refugees in the region. To mark World Refugee Day on June 22, 2018, the European Union Delegation to Somalia and IDLO officially launched the new project 'Supporting the Development and Implementation of Policies for the Return, Reintegration and Protection of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees'.

In his opening remarks at the launch event in Mogadishu, the Hon. Khadar Gulaid, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, explained how: "A vast number of Somalis have either experienced being an IDP or a refugee, [and] today being World Refugee Day, the Somali government with the help of our partners, including IDLO, are ready to address the challenges facing Somalia's IDPs and refugee returnees". 

With funding from the European Union, this new project aims to support the voluntary return, reintegration and protection of Somalis into stable regions of the country by improving the protection of displaced populations through rights-based, sustainable and durable solutions. You can find out more about this project here.

"IDLO is a close partner of the Somali government in formulating rights-based laws and policies for IDPs and returnees. IDLO respects and welcomes the Somali government’s ownership and leadership in this program," said IDLO's Somalia Country Director.

Attendees at the event included officials from the Somali Federal Government and federal member states, as well as representatives of the international community - see event highlights.


More information

The European Union's RE-INTEG program: Enhancing Somalia's responsiveness to the management and reintegration of mixed migration flows

Leyla and Fuad speak about their experience as returnees to Somalia - @IOM/Christian Jepsen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: Top left - ©UNDP