§ Lord Dubsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which organisations successfully bid for funding under the European Refugee Fund for voluntary repatriation measures in 2000–01. [HL503]
§ Lord RookerThe International Organisation for Migration, with Refugee Action as an implementing partner, successfully bid for funding of three separate projects under this measure. All three projects are co-funded by the Home Office. They are:
Voluntary Assisted Return Programme 2000:
The project is open to any persons, subject to the European Refugee Fund criteria, who wish to return to their country of origin but do not have the means to do so. The programme aims, within a 12-month period, to organise a dignified and orderly return service to facilitate the return of 1,200 persons to their home destination. Information and assistance i s made available, in the home country, to all returning persons. This project commenced in September 2000 and is therefore funded retrospectively.
Somalia Project:
This project aims to facilitate the sustainable return and reintegration of 100 Somali nationals currently living in the United Kingdom who have applied for asylum and now wish to go back to Somalia. The project will be concentrating on the regions of Somalia—predominantly Somaliland and Punt Land—where there is peace and conditions are conducive for the safe and orderly return and reintegration of Somali nationals.
Voluntary Assisted Return Programme (VARP) 2001:
This project, which will begin in September 2001, aims to continue the work already established by the earlier project (VARP 2000). The target is a further 1,200 voluntary returns. The same criteria will apply and it is intended that any identified improvements following evaluation of the VARP 2000 project will be incorporated into the programme.