May 3, 2023 (MOYALE, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in collaboration with the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) hosted under United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a bi-National Simulation Exercise on the draft Standard Operating Procedure in Moyale city, Kenya and Ethiopia border.
The Main objective of the three days of the Workshop is to develop Standard Operating Procedures on admission and stay in disaster contexts and validate these through a table-top simulation exercise, providing concrete guidance on how countries can collaborate bilaterally or regionally and prepare for and respond to cross-border disaster displacement and better protect displaced persons based on national, regional and global standards.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and Madam Fathia Alwan, the Director of Health and Social Development Division, Mr. Mujib Jemal IGAD, Migration governance project coordinator said that the Standard Operating systems will be tested and validated through table-top simulation exercises , and are intended to provide concrete guidance on how countries can collaborate bilaterally or regionally and prepare for and respond to cross-border disaster displacement and better protect the displaced persons based on national, regional and global protection standards.
During the workshop the participants familiarized with the disaster-related challenges and dynamics of the Kenya-Ethiopia border region at Moyale-Moyale, as well as learning about the revised Standard operating procedures.
The workshop brought together representatives from both Kenya and Ethiopia, including from national and local government, experts working on disaster risk management, climate change, humanitarian affairs, border management, health and human mobility, as well as other relevant stakeholders, experts from the IGAD Secretariat (Migration Unit), ICPAC, PDD, and IOM.
The Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Joint Program with support from the Government of Switzerland provided the financial and technical supports for the workshop.
It is to be remembered that in 2014, a Regional Consultation on disasters, climate change and cross-border displacement was held in Nairobi.
