Juba – Ahead of International Migrants Day commemorated annually on 18 December, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) hosted a panel discussion and a photo exhibition bringing together labour migrants living and working in South Sudan, the international donor community and heads of UN agencies and embassies.

The half-day event themed “Human Mobility/People on The Move – Migrants in South Sudan”, aimed to raise awareness on the positive contributions made by migrants towards the socio-economic development of South Sudan’s whilst generating remittances that are useful for their home countries.

During the panel discussion moderated by IOM South Sudan’s Chief of Mission, Peter Van der Auweraert, the migrants who represented four countries, namely, Burundi, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda shared personal experiences about reasons they left their countries, life in South Sudan, including challenges they face.

“We do not leave because we want to, we leave because of circumstances,” said Regina Muthee, a businesswoman from Kenya. “I came to South Sudan to find new opportunities so that I could make a better life for my four daughters,” she said.

“When I came in 2009, I was employed in a hair salon and a year later, I opened my own. I train women from South Sudan and other countries about the hair and beauty business, and many have gone to open their own businesses,” said Regina.

IOM provides technical support and capacity building to members states to enhance labour migration governance as well as protection of migrant workers and their family members. IOM continues to work with governments including South Sudan, to improve migration management in the region, and in particular, to address Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SoM) from and within the East and Horn of Africa (EHoA) region.

“The policies and frameworks that we are continuously working with governments together to strengthen and promote well-managed migration and reduce migrant vulnerability translate to the stories that we are hearing today. These policies affect real people; they have an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people in search for new opportunities, some who are are forced to escape conflict, persecution or environmental destruction,” said IOM South Sudan Chief, Peter Van der Auweraert.

At the event, a photo exhibition featuring portraits of labour migrants working in South Sudan showcased the various sectors migrants work in, giving a window into their daily lives and highlighting their contribution towards the economy of South Sudan.

The number of international migrants in South Sudan remains unknown.  However, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) estimates 865,600 international migrants in South Sudan or about 7.8% of the national population. Of that number, about 48% are female and 52% are male.

The event marking International Migrants Day was funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) program.

For more information, please contact: Jale Richard at IOM South Sudan, Tel: +211 929003152; Email: jasantos@iom.int