IOM Strengthens Information Services of the General Directorate of Migration and Aliens in Costa Rica

To provide adequate care to migrants who use the information services of the General Directorate of Migration and Aliens (DGME) in the context of emergency due to COVID-19, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Costa Rica donated equipment that will facilitate access to reliable information validated by the users of this institution. 

To bolster the information process, the donations from IOM to the DGME were: six computers, an information kiosk for in-person service which complies with all security measures established by the Ministry of Health, a safe for the protection of technological equipment, horizontal and vertical signage throughout the central building of the DGME, information boards, and the total remodeling of the area.   

“IOM Costa Rica has rehabilitated the information area of the DGME, starting with a partnership between the MigApp and DGME’s Information, for migrants to book appointments with the DGME in a free and agile way”, explained Isis Orozco, IOM Costa Rica Officer-in-Charge. “With this new donation, we are ensuring that all health regulations established by the Government of Costa Rica are complied with and that the migrant population that enters this institution after making their appointment virtually is treated in a safe and orderly manner”.  

IOM has made available the user-friendly “MigApp”, a mobile application for migrants, for download in the iOS and Android app stores. This mobile app was designed to help migrants make informed decisions during their travels by simplifying access to safe and reliable information regarding migration and services available in each country.  

“We thank IOM for delivering this fully revamped information section. We are very happy to receive it, and it will be a great contribution to the people who come to request information in person and to the attention we give to the public here at the DGME” commented Daguer Hernandez, Deputy Director of the DGME.  

This collaboration took place under the Western Hemisphere Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.