A Family Day-Out Organized for the GAIM Phase IV and V Returnees

As a follow-up to the phone survey conducted under Outcome 2, IOM organized an interactive session with 22 returnees (returned under GAIM IV and V) and their families. The aim was to further understand the underlying push and pull factors that had made them to migrate abroad in irregular means and to further adapt outreach strategies in transit countries to respond to the needs of Canada-bound migrants stranded in third countries.

The family day out was planned at a hotel in Anuradhapura, which is a closer location to all the migrants. Including the 22 GAIM returnees, a total of 65 individuals (including seven children) participated. Consent was obtained for their participation. The returnees were from eight transit countries (Nepal, Mali, Togo, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Nigeria and Mauritania). Significantly, they knew some Sri Lankan migrants who may be still stranded in those locations and informed that some of them had been arrested by the local Police. The returnees provided the contact numbers of four stranded migrants (three in Nigeria and one in Mali). IOM will try to contact these migrants and also increase its outreach to border and law enforcement officials in the targeted transit countries.

The interaction with the returnees also highlighted that the human smuggling in Jaffna, Vavuniya and Colombo are operated by one group of human smugglers who are rather powerful. In addition, communities interested on Canada-bound irregular migration have gradually shifted towards Trincomalee, Mannar and some in Mullaitivu. Nigeria also appears to be increasingly the preferred transit country.

The returnees also highlighted that most of the human smugglers have changed their locations and illegal operations within Sri Lanka due to the raised awareness levels of the communities, highlighting the positive impact of SMC activities in vulnerable communities like Kilinochchi, Batticaloa and Jaffna.

The IOM beneficiaries who participated the Family day out event further explained the importance of the business development training they follow prior to start up their businesses in Sri Lanka based on the standard reintegration plan.

However, they stated that it would be beneficial if the knowledge content of business development / business start-up appears in mobile learning solution in their native language. Such an application also supports them to access the content easily without a time limitation as well as to access via their smart phones.

Additionally, they mentioned that it could be quite useful to have the necessary templates and documents needed to start up a business appearing in the same mobile application with easy access. T. The Jaffna Street Drama Group closed the session with a safe migration themed play.