IOM in Belarus

Cooperation with the International Organization for Migration remains one of the priorities for the Republic of Belarus. The country has actively participated in IOM’s activities since 1994. The Agreement on cooperation between the Government of Belarus and IOM was ratified in 1999. On 29 November 2005 during the 90th Session of the IOM Council the Republic of Belarus became a full-fledged member of the International Organization for Migration.

IOM office in Belarus was established in December 1996 in Minsk. 

To carry out its mission, IOM cooperates closely with its partners – national authorities, civil society and international organizations.

Over the years, IOM Belarus has been implementing projects in the following spheres:

• combating human trafficking;
• labour migration;
• integrated border management;
• cross-border cooperation;
• migration and health;
• crisis response.

In recent years, with an increasing number of vulnerable migrants and refugees in Belarus, IOM has intensified its crisis response activities, including the provision of direct assistance to beneficiaries, including:

• food and non-food items, including hygiene, clothes, shoes, household items, etc.;
• accommodation;
• transportation within Belarus;
• psychosocial support and psychological assistance;
• medical assistance;
• facilitation of employment; 
• provision of vocational trainings;
• voluntary return to the country of origin.

Besides the main IOM office in Minsk, field work is carried out by IOM project sites in Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Brest to ensure comprehensive and prompt assistance.