The United States government, through its representatives, Natasha Franceschi, Charge d’Affaires, and Azouz Samari, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in Tunisia, along with Martha Youth, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), announced a new allocation of $4.45 million in support of Tunisia. This funding aims to provide assistance and humanitarian services to vulnerable migrants in Tunisia while supporting the Tunisian government’s efforts to provide relief to migrants and asylum seekers.
The funding consists of two parts: a voluntary contribution of $1 million from the U.S. government in response to an urgent appeal from the International Organization for Migration. This contribution will provide direct assistance to save the lives of vulnerable migrants in Tunisia, offering shelter, emergency healthcare, and facilitating the organization’s case management activities in Tunisia.
In addition to this, the U.S. government will provide $3.45 million to the International Organization for Migration to support efforts to ensure fair access to justice and align Tunisian migration laws with international standards.
Franceschi emphasized that addressing irregular migration is not the responsibility of a single nation, and it’s a challenge faced by many countries, including the United States. Therefore, it’s essential for governments, international organizations like the International Organization for Migration, and civil society organizations such as the Tunisian Red Crescent to collaborate in protecting the rights and dignity of migrants.
Franceschi further stated, “We appreciate the commitment of the Tunisian government to work with the International Organization for Migration and the Tunisian Red Crescent, among others, to manage the humanitarian response in a way that respects the rights and dignity of individuals.”
Azouz Samari, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in Tunisia, expressed their anticipation of working cooperatively with Tunisian authorities and key national and international partners to address challenges and support vulnerable populations.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Martha Youth, highlighted that this new funding responds to current challenges posed by recent developments. She stressed the iThrough training sessions, knowledge sharing, and best practice discussions, the workshop aimed to strengthen the enforcement framework and promote effective intellectual property protection across the region.mportance of providing assistance to save lives, and the long-term partnership between the U.S. government, organizations like the International Organization for Migration, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in addressing migration challenges.
In addition to financial support, the United States has provided boats and conducted training sessions for the Tunisian National Guard to enhance maritime interception operations. On a broader scale, U.S. economic development assistance aims to address the root economic causes of irregular migration for Tunisian citizens, promoting sustainable economic growth to enhance overall prosperity. Programs sponsored by the U.S. government, in partnership with the Tunisian government, private sector, and civil society, have established over 49,000 small businesses, generated more than 56,000 new job opportunities, and increased sales by over $610 million throughout the country.
