Almost 100 migrants were returned home last year through the International Organisation for Migration's Assisted Voluntary Return Program. These migrants were stranded in Belize during the pandemic, causing IOM to leap into action to develop this program. It benefits those who want to leave but have no means to return home. The project coordinator, Malina Gaianu, told us more.
Malina Gaianu, Project Coordinator, AVR
"We saw that a lot of stranded migrants contacted us during the pandemic because the got stranded in Belize, so the only aim they had was to return to their countries of origin. We assist 99 migrants from Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama to return to their countries of origin and as well we did reception services to 59 Belizeans who were stranded in Nicaragua."
"They need to always wear a mask, we organize for them medical examination, also when the countries require rapid test, we also provide them with this test. And the quarantine, if the quarantine is mandatory we also provide assistance with quarantine, and provide for them food and hygiene kits."
Gaianu also told us how migrants who need help can get in touch with IOM.
Malina Gaianu, Project Coordinator, AVR
"They usually get in contact with their embassies, but also we get reference from the government and authorities for example the Department of Human Services, they refer cases to us, and also migrants get in contact with us through our social media. So they saw that we provide assistance, they contact us, and after an interview we evaluate if they're eligible to return."
Courtney Menzies:
"What makes them eligible?"
Malina Gaianu, Project Coordinator, AVR
"The most important thing is that they must be regular within the country, so they have a regular status because over 150 migrants contacted us but they're in irregular situations so they can't obtain the exit from immigration department to leave the country so we're trying to find a solution with the government authorities in order to see how we can help these migrants who are in Belize in irregular status."
Courtney Menzies:
"How difficult is it for them, especially the ones who have been in Belize for years, how difficult is it for them to start over?"
Malina Gaianu, Project Coordinator, AVR
"Usually they have a good idea of business so IOM in the countries of origin provide this reintegration assistance with courses, trainings, on how to develop this business, depends on each case, we find different solutions for them."
Belizeans that were brought back home were required to quarantine in the designated hotels, and IOM covered the cost of that quarantine. They are now looking at ways to help those in Belize who have an irregular status.
