ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states discussed potential solutions concerning refugees condition and reintegration of returnees in Somalia.
Representatives of IGAD member states drawn from refugee agencies and ministries responsible for planning, local government and foreign affairs met in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on Thursday to validate the roadmap and results of the Nairobi Action Plan on durable solutions for Somali refugees and reintegration of returnees in Somalia.
The Nairobi action plan was set to conclude preparatory work that laid out a regional roadmap on how to deliver the commitments made by IGAD Heads of State and Government at the Special Summit on Somali refugees held in Nairobi on March 25.
IGAD also revealed in a statement issued on Thursday that the first progress report concerning the preparatory work, which will take stock of the achievements by the countries and progress made at the regional level, will be presented in November 2017 at the Regional Inter-ministerial Committee meeting.
Accelerating solutions in Somalia by creating an environment conducive for voluntary and sustainable returns, and delivering durable solutions whilst maintaining protection and asylum space are at the core of the Nairobi Declaration and its accompanying Plan of Action. It also promotes the self-reliance and inclusion of refugees in countries of asylum.
The preparatory work was coordinated by a core group of regional and international partners comprised of IGAD, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Other organizations, such as the UNDP and the World Bank, have since joined the initiative to support implementation of programs aimed at stabilizing Somalia and enhancing self-reliance and access to services and assistance for refugees and host communities across the East and Horn of Africa.
