Chalatenango, August 26, 2022. The Government of the United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Municipality of Nueva Concepción participated in the swearing-in of the municipal Inter-institutional migration working group, during a fair called “Reintegration on Wheels” to bring important services to hundreds of people in the area.

The event was attended by the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Katherine Dueholm; the USAID El Salvador Mission Director, Chris Cushing; the IOM Chief of Mission in El Salvador, Nicola Graviano, and the Mayor of Nueva Concepción, Professor Raúl Peña.

The working group will begin coordinated actions focused on preventing irregular migration, immediate attention to mobility (return migration, transit migration and forced displacement) and the reintegration of returned migrants in the municipality. Among the entities that make up the group are the Ombudsman’s office (PDDH), the National Civil Police (PNC), the Salvadoran Institute for the Development of Women (ISDEMU), the National Hospital of Nueva Concepción, Plan International, the Integration Center for Migrant Workers (CIMITRA), the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), the International Red Cross (IRC), the Salvadoran Association for Humanitarian Aid (PRO-VIDA) and the Association of Evangelical Ministers of Nueva Concepción (AMEN).

In addition, during the activity, immediate care services were provided for returned migrants and their families, with medical, dental, psychosocial and legal care provided to visitors; Likewise, there were informative stands on the prevention of irregular migration.

“Inter-institutional planning and coordination on migration issues is essential to provide a timely and comprehensive response to the migrant population at any stage of the migration cycle, attending to their particular and immediate needs and committing ourselves to follow-up to support their development and well-being,” commented Nicola Graviano, IOM Chief of Mission in El Salvador.

The creation of the working group and the services fair are part of the Integrated Responses on Migration in Central America project, implemented by IOM with USAID support.