IOM has signed two cooperation agreements with Qatari charitable
organizations which will allow for greater collaboration on
humanitarian activities both in Qatar and abroad.

An agreement signed in Geneva between IOM and the Qatar
Authority of Charitable Activities, an umbrella organization
comprising six charities including Qatar Red Crescent and the Qatar
Charity, will pave the way for joint activities between IOM and
member organizations of the Qatar Authority.

Established in 2004, the Qatari governmental body promotes
development through humanitarian activities around the world.

IOM has also signed an agreement with the Qatar Charity in Sudan
allowing for collaboration on return and reintegration programmes
for internally displaced people (IDPs) and returning refugees as
well as on counter-trafficking activities focusing on children.

Collaboration on programmes in Sudan will include the setting up
of temporary and permanent way stations and quick-impact community
projects for community development in post-conflict areas.

There are an estimated six million IDPs in Sudan, four million
as a result of the decades-long conflict in the south of the
country.

IOM has already been helping IDPs return to their former homes
in organized voluntary movements and providing emergency
humanitarian assistance to those returning spontaneously. Funding
permitting, it aims to help return nearly 200,000 IDPs this
year.

Counter-trafficking efforts will focus on child protection with
a special emphasis being placed on education and health.

For further information, please contact:

Redouane Saadi

IOM Regional Adviser for North Africa, the Middle East and the
Gulf

Tel: + 41 79 829 71 37

E-mail: "mailto:rsaadi@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">rsaadi@iom.int

Mario Tavolaj

IOM Chief of Mission, Sudan

Tel: +249 912 17 0092

E-mail: "mailto:mtavolaj@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">mtavolaj@iom.int