IOM yesterday signed an agreement to work with the Afghan Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to improve migration management through
inter-ministerial dialogue and regional cooperation with the aim of
establishing regular labour migration schemes allowing Afghans to
work abroad legally and supporting institutional capacity of
Afghanistan's consular representations in the region.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between IOM and
MoFA at a ceremony in Kabul attended by Foreign Minister Rangin
Dadfar Spanta and IOM Deputy Chief of Mission Lorena Lando.

Decades of fighting in Afghanistan caused mass population
displacement both internally and across borders. Many Afghans have
now returned home, but millions of them still remain abroad,
particularly in neighbouring countries, as both regular and
irregular migrants.

An IOM project - Solutions for Afghans in Neighbouring Countries
- already provides advice and technical assistance to the Afghan
government to address their complex situation.

The project, which is funded by the European Commission through
UNHCR, is implemented in close cooperation with the MoFA's Consular
Office, which is responsible for Afghan consulates abroad.

For further information, contact:

Scott Schirmer

IOM Kabul

Tel. + 93 (0) 70 224 885

Email: "mailto:sschirmer@iom.int">sschirmer@iom.int 

Katsui Kaya

Tel. +93 (0) 700 185 961

E-mail: "mailto:kkaya@iom.int">kkaya@iom.int