The International Organization for Migration (IOM) South Africa handed over two new and improved shelters for up to 200 unaccompanied boys and 80 vulnerable female migrants in Musina on Monday.

The R4 million shelters were built under the project called Support to the South African government to strengthen communities of diversity and peace and they were funded by the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme.

Since 2008, Musina has recorded a high number of migrants, including unaccompanied minors, abused women and other vulnerable migrants. Many of the women and girls are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and many of the children have left or lost contact with their families on their long journey to South Africa.

By July 2012, faith-based organisations that had previously provided shelter and food for vulnerable migrants were finding themselves increasingly stretched by ever-increasing numbers of arrivals. IOM, in partnership with Musina Mayor Carol Phiri, responded by launching the project to build and upgrade the two shelters, which will provide better living conditions and restore the dignity and basic human rights of the migrants.

“This project is a good example of IOM’s efforts to address migration challenges and strengthen communities of peace and diversity in South Africa through partnering closely with both communities and the government," says IOM's acting Chief of Mission in South Africa, Dr Erick Ventura.

The new shelters include new accommodation facilities, furnished living and dining areas, built-in kitchens, running water and sanitation, laundry areas, as well as furniture, including beds with mosquito nets.

“We are happy that the vulnerable women, young girls and boys will finally enjoy humane living conditions and the protection they deserve. As the local municipality, we remain committed to working with IOM and its partners to find solutions to migration challenges in the area,” says Mayor Phiri.

The founder of the shelter, Prof Ezekiel Matsaung of the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa, said the shelter was established in September 1988, with the main objective of promoting human rights. “We make sure that the children go to school and they are in different grades. Last year, two of them passed Grade 12 and they are now enrolled at the University of Limpopo. One is doing LLB and another one is doing BCom. We are happy that this day has finally arrived because these buildings will alleviate suffering in the area of day-to-day service provision to the shelter's beneficiaries.”

The IOM also upgraded and strengthened the capacity of the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) in Musina by procuring new medical and essential office equipment for the centre and conducting medical forensic training for 11 nurses. They also conducted capacity-building workshops for 17 shelter staff on shelter management, programme management and case management in order to address capacity constraints of community-based and faith-based organizations and shelters in providing protection assistance to migrants in Musina.

The IOM office in Musina continues to provide protection and family-tracing assistance to stranded migrants and unaccompanied minors. The office is also actively involved in strengthening the local response to address the health and social needs of migrants through capacity-building workshops on HIV/TB for health-care professionals in Musina and Beit Bridge.