The Government of Iraq, with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, opened yesterday the fourth Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Iraq in Basra, to strengthen migration governance in Iraq by providing potential migrants, returnees and their families with access to reliable information, counselling and referral services. Implemented by ICMPD, the MRC will also promote safe and legal migration, and raise awareness on the risks of irregular migration and threats of human trafficking.
Hosted by the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced (MoMD), the event gathered officials from the National Security Advisory, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Migration and Displaced, the Basra local government, the Department of Labour and Vocational Training, and the Directorate of Youth and Sports. Also represented were the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, academic institutions, civil society, and international partners.
We thank ICMPD for the support, assistance, and partnership with the Ministry; and the Government of The Netherlands for the opening of the Centre.said Dr Safaa Al-Samaraie, Director General for Migration Affairs at the MoMD, at the opening.
Bander Fawzi, Director of the Migration Department for Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also added that the opening of the MRC in Basra represents an important step in strengthening national migration management efforts in Iraq, and to provide citizens with information and guidance, enabling sustainable reintegration, decisions built on knowledge and awareness.
The new Centre in Basra is established under the Migration and Reintegration Awareness Project, implemented by ICMPD in close cooperation with the MoMD. As a local hub, it will offer access to accurate and up-to-date information on regular migration pathways, employment opportunities, vocational training, reintegration support, and services available from government and partners. The Centre also aims to support (potential) migrants' informed decision-making, reduce risks associated with irregular migration, and facilitate sustainable reintegration for returning Iraqi migrants.
Partnership is at the heart of this effort. ICMPD brings the technical expertise and a track record in building practical, user-centred services. Iraqi institutions provide leadership, ownership, and the policy framework that make the service sustainable. The Netherlands is proud to support this collaboration because we see it as a clear win-win: fewer dangerous journeys and stronger communities in Iraq, and a more predictable, cooperative basis for mobility to Europe.said Daphne van Dam, Coordinator at the Ministry of Justice and Security of The Netherlands.
At the opening ceremony, ICMPD’s MRC Coordinator Tiba Khalil presented an overview of the progress achieved and the services available through the Centres, and the role of the MRC network in the country. Every client consultation in MRC is tailored to the individual needs; and there is a need to understand that returnees often face significant challenges upon their return, whether the return was voluntary or forced. MRC counsellors provide psychosocial support to help them cope with such challenges and successfully reintegrate into their communities.
This new MRC in Basra represents our commitment to people, knowledge, and cooperation. As MRC Basra will expand access to migration-related services in southern Iraq, we will work to ensure that it becomes a trusted platform for migrants, returnees and communities in line with national priorities and international good practice. ICMPD is committed to continuing the partnership with the Government of Iraq, Government of the Netherlands and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen migration governance, build institutional capacities, and support solutions that benefit individuals, communities, and society as a whole.ICMPD Head of Silk Routes Region Marija Raus concluded in her statement at the opening ceremony.
The newly opened Centre in Basra is now the 15th of ICMPD’s global network of MRCs globally; with others in Bangladesh, Iraq (in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Baghdad), and Pakistan; Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; as well as a virtual centre for Afghanistan. The first MRC was opened in Pakistan in 2016.
Safaa Al-Samaraie, Director General for Migration Affairs at the Ministry of Migration and Displacement (MoMD); Fatima Jarkas, Project Manager and Head of Office, Iraq, ICMPD; and Abdulla Sadoon, Director, Ministry of Migration and Displacement - Basra Branch, participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Basra, Iraq.