The UN Migration Agency (IOM) in Cyprus announces the completion of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme for third-country nationals in their countries of origin for the third consecutive year.

Addressing its humanitarian role, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) in Cyprus provides support to the Republic of Cyprus through the implementation of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme (AVRR), which helps third-country nationals wishing to return to their country of origin to do so with dignity and security.

The assistance includes information and counselling services, renewal or issuance of travel documents, safe travel arrangements and support for reintegration. Special assistance is provided to specific vulnerable groups, including migrants with health problems, victims of trafficking and unaccompanied children.

This year, 150 migrants benefited from the programme, among them vulnerable people, and since January 2016, IOM Cyprus has helped a total of 400 people to return. Some of them have received personalized reintegration assistance, aiming at their sustainable social and economic reintegration.

This is also the subject of the first edition of the IOM of Cyprus entitled “AVRR Migrant stories”. The publication deals with the stories of program beneficiaries who returned to their countries of origin and benefited from reintegration assistance, which allowed them to make a new, sustainable start in their own country. Several of the beneficiaries created small businesses thanks to the reintegration assistance, in countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Nepal, by contributing to the development of the local community.

The programme is co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Republic of Cyprus.

For Media requests: Mr. Dimitris Tsagalas, Communications Assistant, IOM of Cyprus,
Tel: 22772270 Email: dtsagalas@iom.int