With the aim of providing complementary food for children and adolescents, as well as lactating or pregnant women who require a differentiated diet to meet their specific nutritional needs, the Maternal-Infant Nutrition Dining Room began operations at the San Vicente Migrant Reception Station (ERM for its Spanish acronym), province of Darién.

This action corresponds to the work articulated with the Government of Panama, International Cooperation, as well as Civil Society organizations and other actors, and is a fundamental step in the implementation of various actions contained in the Management of Temporary Accommodation Manual and the adaptation of spaces destined to house migrants, such as the Migrant Reception Stations in Darién, in accordance with minimum humanitarian standards.

IOM, within the framework of Pillar 3 on emergencies and migration crises of the Western Hemisphere Program, a project that seeks to contribute to the development and implementation of strategies in the region so that migration is safe, orderly and regular, has estimated the complementarity of various actions, within which the construction of this dining room in the ERM of San Vicente is part and which is being implemented through the Rotaract Club of Panama.

This centre is the first of its kind that operates in the ERM, has a capacity for 94 people and is perfectly equipped with the implements required to cook and serve food with adequate hygiene measures. There is also a proposal to strengthen the creation of multipurpose tents necessary for the recreation of migrants, where they could be able to carry out other recreational activities with children, as well as health awareness activities , cultural events, forums and conversations fulfilling other basic attributes of social cohesion.

"We love to be able to promote this type of initiative where the well-being of children, lactating and pregnant women are the central focus. Without a doubt, to be able to offer a differentiated diet is the reflection of the efforts of both the national government and the United Nations System, through the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, in addition to all the organizations committed to a humanitarian and dignified response for migrants," said Santiago Paz, Head of the Panama Administrative Centre and IOM Chief of Mission in Panama.

In this same context, Lola Castro, Regional Director of the World Food Programme, congratulated "the efforts of Panama and the excellent work of coordination with the agencies of the United Nations System and civil society for ensuring that migrant women feel protected and have a healthy diet, and that this has an impact on their lives and, in parallel, on local communities."

Daniela Arias, Director of International Affairs of the National Migration Service, mentioned that the construction of this dining room is an outstanding result of the joint work between the institutions involved and that it complies with the provision of services, established in the Sphere Standards referred on the Management of Temporary Accommodation Manual, under the great commitment of leaving no one behind."

The significant event was also attended by Ana Luisa Castro, Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Cristian Munduate, Resident Coordinator of the United

Nations System in Panama; Commissioner Luis Trejos, Deputy Director of the National Border Service; Liam Wilburne, Rotaract Project Coordinator, as well as special guests, members of the Human Mobility Group and those involved in the process of dealing with extra-regional migratory flows.

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int