IOM, the Ecuadorian Ministries of Health and Urban Development and
Housing, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health
Organization are commemorating World Environment Day today with an
agreement to carry out a Surveillance and Control Plan in all 122
potable water systems built by IOM's development programme for
communities along Ecuador's northern border.

IOM's support to the Surveillance and Control Plan will include
technical assistance and training to local government officials to
increase their capacity to manage, operate and service the systems.
In small communities, IOM supports the creation and strengthening
of local water administration boards. In larger communities,
technical units are created within the municipal governments to
oversee management and service with IOM's assistance. IOM partners
provide continuous health and hygiene education.

Since 2001 IOM has been carrying out social and productive
infrastructure projects in the provinces along the Northern Border
with funds from the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and in coordination with the Ecuadorian
government through its Northern Development Unit (UDENOR). The
projects aim to improve the health of the population and to promote
development of these communities, which receive Colombians who
cross the border into these areas.

Some 218 basic infrastructure projects have been built providing
these poor communities with much-needed services including drinking
water, sanitation systems and roads. These projects have benefited
more than 371,342 people.

The Ecuadorian government, civil society and the international
community provide continuous assistance to persons arriving from
Colombia, some of whom will apply for refugee status in
Ecuador.

Currently there are 13,663 Colombian refugees and 44,303 asylum
seekers in Ecuador, and about 46 per cent of them live in the
northern border region. Most of the refugees and asylum seekers
live in extremely vulnerable conditions.

For more information contact:

IOM Ecuador

Ana Guzman

Tel: (593-2)-225-3948

E-mail: "mailto:aguzman@oim.org.ec">aguzman@oim.org.ec