IOM

UN agencies, development partners, and national government representatives were part of the joint mission.

“Without peace, there can be no development and without development there cannot be peace”, noted Mr. Wagener, as he led the joint mission comprised of heads of UN Highlands Joint Programme, UNDP, UNFAO, UNFPA, UN Women and IOM.

This is funded by the United States Agency for International Development's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA).
IOM in partnership with the National Disaster Centre (NDC), IOM is delivering a Training of Trainer (ToT) on DTM to 23 officials working on disaster at national, provincial and district level from 21 provinces, including the National Capital District and Autonomous Region of Bougainville.  

They are able to do so after undertaking the training conducted by International Organization for Migration (IOM).

IOM in partnership with the National Disaster Centre is enhancing disaster preparedness through delivering training on the use of the DTM.

The DTM is a critical data-gathering tool useful in tracking and monitoring population displacement and informing multi-sectoral responses, including protection during crises. It is being rolled-out in line with the Sendai Framework and PNG’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.

The representatives are from the Hoiyabia, Puju and Yambraka communities in Hela, and Ekari in Southern Highlands.

The CBDRM training is being delivered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mendi town and it is co-funded by the Hela Provincial Government and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

The CBDRM training is empowering the participants with knowledge and strategies for strengthening community resilience to natural hazards.

The rehabilitation included the setting up of three additional hand washing stations to promote personal health and hygiene among staff, students and visitors, helping to stop the spread of COVID-19, as well as other communicable diseases.

Western Province was amongst the first in Papua New Guinea to report a COVID-19 case and now has the third highest number of cases in the country.

IOM, UNFPA and UNICEF have been aiding North Fly District in Western Province with support from the UN Secretary General’s Multi-Partner Trust Fund to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new equipment will effectively process travelers’ documents to combat identity and passport fraud.

A system developed and introduced by IOM, the verifier travel document and bearer will help border control officers to conduct secondary passport inspections efficiently.

IOM PNG Chief of Mission, Lance Bonneau, said the software program and the verifier is very quick, very efficient.

The Thai-owned refrigerator ship Blissful Reefer has been impounded by PNG authorities in Daru -- eight fishermen have so far been rescued, with 19 other crew members still to be questioned.

The chief of mission for the IOM in PNG, George Gigauri, says the rescued men were part of a larger group of forced labourers to be distributed to various fishing boats.

He says PNG authorities are searching for other similar vessels believed to be in its waters.

Mr Gigauri says the Blissful Reefer appears to be part of a wider trafficking ring.

The IOM is working with PNG authorities and Canada's Border Protection Agency to improve surveillance and monitoring.

The agency's head of mission in PNG, George Gigauri, says people crossing the border illegally tend to be from third countries and are usually trying to reach Australia.

Mr Gigauri says the numbers are not large - likely to be in the dozens rather than the hundreds.

He says given the long border, the inhospitable country and communal land ownership, the IOM believes working with the local communties is the way to go.