Panama City, October 6, 2023 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reconditioned spaces within La Ascensión del Señor Parish located in the community of Las Mañanitas, which facilitate the integration of migrants and community members. The refurbishment consisted of painting the walls, fixing the floors, installing the ceiling and adequate lighting fixtures.

USAID and IOM strengthen civil society organizations that serve migrants, provide referrals to institutions to access basic services, and promote integration in communities, particularly in the municipalities of La Chorrera, San Miguelito, and Panama.

Within the parish, training sessions are developed with beneficiaries, community leaders and local authorities. Likewise, the spaces are used to keep furniture and tools.

"Every organization must have the necessary elements to provide quality assistance to migrants and members of host communities," explained Giuseppe Loprete, Director of the Panama Administrative Centre (PAC) and Chief of Mission of IOM Panama. "We commend the great work done by Father Eusebio and his team and we are committed to continue supporting them," he added.

"The importance of USAID's support through IOM to the work we do in the Parish and the Pastoral del Migrante is that we are giving assistance to fellow human beings. We want each person to have the opportunity to empower themselves, to forge a new path forward and be an active participant in their own present and future," said Father Eusebio Muñoz, pastor and representative of La Ascensión del Señor Parish.

The Integrated Response on Migration in Central America programme, implemented by IOM and USAID, promotes safe, orderly and regular migration processes and the sustainable integration of migrants. This is achieved by facilitating access to rights, social cohesion and better responses from all sectors to the needs of migrants in the most vulnerable situations.

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