The International Organization for Migration - Essay Example

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organization. Its primary aim is to ensure that there is humanity and orderly migration privileges to migrants and the society. This principle drives its operations. The organization has a total of 157 members and another 100 observers working in more than 480 locations (Christoff, 12). They also have staff working on their projects that are widespread in Iraq. There has been a large number of emigrants from Iraq that have left the country due to the conflict that have been going on in the country since the 1970(s).These wars have effects on the majority of the population. Lack of a stable country and constant attacks was the reason people have been migrating. As a result, they migrated to countries such as Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan. The major conflict that increased the number of the emigrants was the one that has been in existence since April 2003. These wars have increased the number of displaced person to 1.9 million (Christoff, 56). The conflicts led to the need for the humanitarian help to help the emigrants have a better life. Consequently, the Organization started its operations in Iraq in 2003.There aim was to help the people who were migrating to be comfortable even in their current places. The Organization in the Iraq mission has received a lot of funding from both Europe and America. They get their funding from countries like France, Denmark, Australia, Netherlands, Finland, America, and the United Kingdom (Christoff 102). The Organization works in partnership with other humanitarian organization such as the United Nations and non-governmental organizations too. The numbers of refugees are higher than when the program started. As a result, they have extended their programs to Kuwait and Jordan, where the emigrants have settled. The Iraq mission of the organization deals with three main things: movement, emergency, and post-crisis management. On movement, the Organization facilitates the movement by providing transport facilities to the victims to their destination. The victims are accorded a secure and comfortable movement with their families. They also ensure that the change gives dignity to the emigrants by providing logistics. On emergency, the organization has a rapid response unit to an emergency on the displaced victims. It engages the Ministry of health in emergency Evacuation of Victims who needs urgent medical help. There are emergencies in terms of the basic survival commodities for the victims of war. The organization responds to the families that lack essential needs for survival. These products are aimed to make the victims of war comfortable. There is medical provision for those who fall ill. On the post-crisis management, they are involved in restoring the victims to their initial position before the war. They reconstruct the lives of the victims by ensuring they are safe and comfortable in the new settlements. They also provide counseling services to the victims of violence. The organization is also participates in seeking for a lasting solution for the displaced persons. Therefore, they continue to monitor their movements and settlement. They also engage with the host communities to ensure that there is lasting peace, and they can relate well with the emigrants. They also involved in the training of their security agencies on the departure strategies. The organization trains the United Nations army in inductions that help them when they depart to Iraq. This training is also done to the staffs who participate in the Iraq mission. The organization is involved in a range of activities that have made it very crucial in the restoration process of the displaced victims. The organization has been very vocal on the justice issues that have affected most of the population of Iraq. Some of the injustices that they talk about are those that involve war crimes, rape cases, and forceful evacuation of the people and the killing of the innocent victims. Most of the displaced people have been victims of the war that has lasted over a decade. The organizations in liaison with the United Nations and the supporting army have tried to catch up with the perpetrators of these acts and some of them have faced trial in the International Criminal Court (Cordeman, 115). The organization, therefore, is vocal about the rights of the victims and they fight those who violate these rights through the legal channels. The also guard against the violation of the rights of the children. Some of which are forced to join the illegal groups such as al-Qaida. The Organization responds to the victims of rape by giving the medical assistance. There are also awareness programs on the human right. The Organization also works in collaboration with the new government of Iraq to punish those breaking the laws. The collapse of the previous regime brought in a democratic government that came in after the elections. The operations of IOM are helping to restore the country positively. The organization works together to ensure that there is justice for everyone in the country. Since the collapse of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the country has embarked on a serious reform of the justice system that was formerly corrupted by the previous governments (Cordeman, 153). Therefore, the contribution of the Organization improves the justice system of the country. They also work hand in hand with the local leaders to ensure that Iraq citizens enjoy living in a just society just like the rest of the world. The number of emigrants is high. The refugees migrate to some European countries and the United States. The organization works together with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to facilitate these migrations. They ensure that the Iraqi refugees receive a travel document. The United States, through her embassies, work to ensure that the refugees settle in the United States and other countries. The medical officers screen them, prior to flying and the visa process is mainly done to invite many of the refugees to take the option. There is also the program in the United States that ensures that they arrive and settle safely. This program has helped the victims to start a new life in United States. The participation of the immigration departments of these states has also helped them to migrate (Cordesman, 125). In the case of the third country nationals, the organization also coordinates their return to their countries. They facilitate the processing of visa document. It only needs individual request for to be return to their country. The organization considers those individuals whose countries may not have the financial capabilities to take them back to their country (Cordeman, 127). The Organization not only facilitates travel but also ensures that they settle in the new settlements. They give the refugees the support they require to live a healthy life in the United States. It helps them in reintegration with the new population. They offer counseling as one of the support services. This counseling helps the refugees to adapt to the new environment. There has been much antagonism in existence from the times that the former regime collapsed. There is a need to reconcile the people to ensure that both the opposition and the government should come together to appease the citizens. The Organization has been vocal in engaging the local leaders from both sides to come together and build the country. This move helps the citizen to be together, and the injustices experienced and their solutions. This effort has improved the peace of the people of Iraq, and they have experienced peace. The Organization works with the local leaders to bring the citizen together. The Organization has worked hard to improve the lives of the people of Iraq. They reconstruct the country through the many projects. The move to have a branch of IOM is very beneficial to the people of Iraq. It changes the lives of the citizens. References Christoff, Joseph A. Iraqi Refugee Assistance: Improvements Needed in Measuring Progress, Assessing Needs, Tracking Funds, and Developing an International Strategic Plan. Report to Congressional Committees. Washington, DC: GAO, 2009. Cordesman, Anthony H, Adam Mausner, and Elena Derby. Iraq and the United States: Creating a Strategic Partnership. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2010. Cordesman, Anthony H, and Emma R. Davies. Iraqs Insurgency and the Road to Civil Conflict. Westport, Conn: Praeger Security International, 2008. Print. Dobbins, James. Occupying Iraq: A History of the Coalition Provisional Authority. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corp, 2009. Print. Loue, Sana, and Martha Sajatovic. Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health. New York: Springer, 2011. Internet resource. Read More