October 10, 2023
The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) and the Government of the Republic of Panama, through the Ministry of Government and Ciudad del Saber Foundation, signed an agreement that establishes the starting point for the project “Strengthening the humanitarian assistance, integration and protection of refugees, asylum seekers and host communities in Darien province, in line with the National Action Plan MIRPS, with a focus on children, adolescents and women”.
The project will be implemented between 2023 and 2024 with funding from the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework Fund (MIRPS Fund), established within the OAS and administered by its Department of Social Inclusion.
This project will benefit more than 800 refugees and asylum seekers in the province of Darién, specifically in Metetí, Alto Playona, Boca de Cupé and Comarca Emberá (Canaan Membrillo and Bajo Chiquito), through:
1) The provision of basic humanitarian assistance kits for health and hygiene (taking into account differentiated needs of women, men and girls and boys),
2) The provision of school kits for children and adolescents,
3) Training in micro enterprise and basic equipment to women entrepreneurs in the area.
The initiative is part of the first portfolio of projects of the MIRPS Fund, launched with the pioneering contribution of Spain.
The event was attended by the Minister of Government of Panama, Roger Tejada Bryden; the Vice Minister of Government of Panama, Juana López Córdoba; the Director of the Department of Social Inclusion of the OAS, Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian; the Representative of the OAS General Secretariat in Panama, Rubén Farje; the Ambassador of Spain in Panama, Ignacio Guzmán Palacios; the Director for the Americas of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, José Samaniego; the Regional Coordinator of the MIRPS Fund, Melissa Pocasangre and the Director of Public Relations of the Ciudad del Saber Foundation, Vilma Falconett.