IOM Regional Director (RD) for East and Horn of Africa (E&HA), Mr. Mohammed Abdiker met with Tanzanian High Commissioner (HC) and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-HABITAT in Kenya, Dr. Pindi Chana in Nairobi, on 09 October 2019.

The main objective of the IOM RD for E&HA, Mr. Mohammed Abdiker meeting with Tanzanian HC and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-HABITAT in Kenya, Dr. Pindi Chana was to pay her a courtesy visit as the new IOM RD for E&HA region.

Additionally, they have discussed on issues related to migration trends and challenges in the region as well as at global level including irregular migration, human trafficking, smuggling, migration management, diaspora etc.

"The United Republic of Tanzania as a founding Member State of both East Africa Community (EAC) that has its Head Quarters (HQ) in Arusha as well as South Africa Development Community (SADC) that it has currently its chairmanship has a very important role to play in adressing migration challenges as well as in promoting its benefits through Migration and Development initiatives in Member States in both regional economic communities (REC's)", said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM RD for E&HA during the meeting. 

IOM RD for E&HA and the Tanzanian HC in Kenya have agreed to meet with High Commissioners and Ambassadors of Members States from both REC's in Nairobi regularly.

While EAC is composed of six (6) countries i.e. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, SADC REC currently includes sixteen (16) countries namely: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

IOM RD for E&HA was accompanied in his meeting with the Tanzanian HC in Kenya by IOM Chief of Mission (CoM) to the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Qasim Sufi who briefed the Tanzanian HC in Kenya on IOM work as the United Nations (UN) Migration Agency in the country i.e. Irregular Migration, Counter Human Trafficking and Smuggling especially on the Southern Route, Border Management, Durable Solutions for Refugees etc.

"IOM is currently the second largest UN Agency within the United Nations Country Management Team (UNCMT) that is composed of fifteen (15 resident UN Agencies in the country that is Delivering As One through the United Nations Development Assistance Plan two (UNDAP 2) from 2018 -23 said Dr. Qasim Sufi, IOM CoM to Tanzania. "Its projects and programmes operations are in 15 regions in Mainland and Zanzibar" of the United Republic of Tanzania, he added.

For more information, please contact, Dr Qasim Sufi at qsufi@iom.int or tel. +255682563796.