Costa Rica: IOM promotes the integration of migrants in emergencies during the coffee harvest in Frailes, Desamparados

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) made an important donation of equipment and materials for immediate response to emergencies to the Community Emergency Committee of Frailes, in the canton of Desamparados, San José. It also gave a talk to raise awareness about the integral approach in emergency situations and the importance of including the migrant population in emergency preparedness and response.  

"It is essential to support all emergency committees, especially in this coffee harvest season, where we have an intense migration of Nicaraguans, indigenous people and Panamanians, who come to support us in the coffee harvest. An area where we have serious emergencies due to landslides, floods, overflowing rivers, as well as several faults that are active in this community, we prepare ourselves preventively to be attentive and with this we give a motivation to all the leaders and organized teams and emergency committees" said Gilbert Jimenez, mayor of Desamparados.  

In addition to Jiménez, Sheyla Fallas, president of the Frailes Community Emergency Committee, Marta Blanco, director of the NGO CADENA, and Sergio Jiménez, IOM project officer in Costa Rica, participated in the ceremony, which took place on January 22, 2021.   

"We are delivering a backpack for the families, for them to use in case of emergency. It comes with emergency lamps, energy bars and other supplies. We are here to help their families so they can protect themselves and learn about resilience," said Marta Blanco, director of the NGO CADENA in Costa Rica.  

The equipment donated by IOM consists of fire extinguishers, emergency alarms, megaphones, portable radios, flashlights, whistles, first aid kits, stretchers, neck collars, fluorescent vests, portable gas stoves, shovels, waterproof ponchos and high resistance braided rope.   

These activities are carried out by IOM through the Western Hemisphere Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. They are conducted within the framework of the risk management actions currently in development with communities and local governments.