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Since 2018, the Safety, Support and Solutions (SSS II) programme has been protecting migrants along the Central Mediterranean route, the deadliest route for migrants worldwide, particularly focusing on on victims of trafficking, unaccompanied children, and migrants in very vulnerable situations. Through the SSS II programme, IOM carries out search & rescue operations in the Sahara desert, and so far 35,000 migrants in extremely vulnerable situations has been provided with critical life-saving support. Research also constitutes a key part of this programme, with the purpose of better understanding the factors that influence migrant choices in these regions. 

SSS II Countries: 
 

  • Algeria 
  • Burkina Faso
  • Côte D’Ivoire
  • The Gambia
  • Guinea
  • Libya 
  • Mali
  • Morocco
  • Niger
  • Senegal
  • Tunisia

Key Results: 
 

  • Over 35,000 migrants have been supported with life-saving assistance at critical junctures. Migrats willing to return to their countries of origin have also been provided with skills development training and reintegration support. 
  • The programme is also aimed at raising awareness around migration choices and potential risks along certain routes. In this context, 230,000 migrants have been provided with essential information, including on how to access services
  • The programme has also been generating information and data to help governments and organisations to provide critical help and to understand the reasons behind these dangerous journeys. Migration flows have been documented through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix flow monitoring points and several reports analysing these flows have been produced.
  • More than than 2,000 government officials and staff of civil society organisations have been trained by IOM, to better respond to migrant needs.
  • Through the SSS II porgramme support is also provided to the communities that host migrants.
  • With the University of Birmingham, IOM has also been working on the interdisciplinary research project MigChoice, with the purpose of better understand what affects migrant decision-making in the specific context of West Africa

The Diaspora Engagement in the UK

As part of the wider SSS II programme, IOM has been engaging with the Guinean, Senegalese, and Senegalese diaspora communities in the UK, to better understand and share learnings about the triggers behind the migration decision making process from these countries, and share learnings about it. 

 

The SSS II is a three-year programme (2018-2021) funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and is managed by IOM UK.