A fourth IOM migration resource centre has opened in Georgia which
will provide potential migrants with crucial information on the
realities of going abroad, on opportunities for legal migration and
the risks of irregular migration.

The centre in Batumi will serve Georgia's south western
region of Adjaria and adjacent areas with trained counsellors
available for both telephone and face-to-face advice on visa
procedures, study and work opportunities, asylum procedures and
permanent residence abroad.

“The new centre is of strategic importance since it is
close to the Georgian-Turkish border and the closest destination
country for Georgian labour migrants is Turkey. With this targeted
information campaign, IOM aims to address the problem of scarcity
of information about migration realities which makes it easier for
unscrupulous agents and employment firms to cheat uninformed
potential migrants. Many people ready to sell their last belongings
in exchange for a promise of a high paid job abroad, may end up
being smuggled and risk their lives or fall prey to human
traffickers,” said Mary Sheehan, IOM Chief of Mission in
Georgia.

IOM has three other resource centres in Tbilisi, Kutaisi in
western Georgia, and Gurjaani in eastern Georgia. All four centres
are part of an EU funded programme on informing Georgians on risks
and realities of migration.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Nana Tugushi

IOM Migration Resource Centre Coordinator

Tel.: (888 222) 31 347

E-mail: "mailto:nana@iom.ge">nana@iom.ge 

Mr. Marc Hulst

IOM Programme Officer

Mobile: 877 52 52 88

E-mail: "mailto:marc@iom.ge">marc@iom.ge