Preventing irregular departures and better protecting populations exposed to the risks of maritime migration is the goal of an awareness campaign launched on Monday in the Boeny region by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the National Police and the Customs administration.
Over five days, the campaign targets local communities, particularly women and youth, across five sites. The awareness efforts focus on the dangers of sea crossings to Mayotte, appropriate behavior in the event of an incident at sea, and how to report high-risk situations.
This initiative comes as communities on the northwest coast remain particularly vulnerable to the risks of irregular crossings to Mayotte, which have already claimed several lives. The campaign is taking place at the Pastoral Center, the Ambalavola Youth House, Ambondrona, the Mangarivotra House of Culture in Mahajanga, and in Marovoay. According to the IOM, communities are also being warned about false promises that can lead to human trafficking and are being informed about safer alternatives to irregular migration.
In its statement, the organization explains that this campaign is an extension of a maritime simulation exercise organized in July as part of the ‘Creating Smarter Borders’ project. Funded by the Japanese government with $3 million, the project tested the coordination of 13 national institutions in response to an irregular maritime migration incident.
‘The preparedness we have built within our institutions must be anchored among the people who will be the first to face these risks,’ emphasized Roger Charles Evina, IOM Chief of Mission for Madagascar and the Comoros. Implemented by the IOM in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the project covers Madagascar, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to strengthen border security, management, and migration governance.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-12 12:38:39 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/migration-lorganisation-internationale-pour-les-migrations-sensibilise-les-communautes-de-boeny-aux-risques-des-traversees-vers-mayotte/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=migration-lorganisation-internationale-pour-les-migrations-sensibilise-les-communautes-de-boeny-aux-risques-des-traversees-vers-mayotte