Geneva – OnePress
Sudan and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of voluntary return, reintegration and recovery during a meeting between Sudan’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare Moatasem Ahmed Saleh and IOM Director-General Amy Pope on the sidelines of the 114th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.
The Sudanese minister said that his country is witnessing an increase in the number of returnees to their areas in a number of states, which calls for expanding safe and sustainable voluntary return programs, as well as supporting reintegration efforts, improving livelihoods and enhancing community stability.
The two sides discussed the prospects of cooperation in support of displaced persons and returnees, vocational training and skills development programs, the development of data and registration systems, as well as the employment of digital solutions in social protection programs.
The minister stressed the importance of transitioning from humanitarian response to recovery, reconstruction and resilience-building to contribute to social and economic stability in war-affected areas.
As agreed, the parties will designate joint points of contact and organize a technical mission to identify priority areas of intervention and develop a practical framework for cooperation in the coming period.
For her part, the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) affirmed the organization’s commitment to continue supporting Sudan in the files of voluntary return, reintegration and recovery, expressing its readiness to support programs that contribute to the promotion of stability and sustainable development.
The meeting comes at a time when Sudan is facing wide-ranging humanitarian challenges as a result of the ongoing conflict since 2023, amid governmental and international efforts to support the return of displaced people and the rehabilitation of affected communities.