By Ousman Kaliati:
The National Planning Commission (NPC) has underscored the need to develop proper strategies and guiding policies to support people that are migrating from climate hazards.
NPC Head of Research and Focal Person for Capacity Building Andrew Jamali said this during a stakeholders’ workshop for validation of the Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (Mecc) toolkit which the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) organised in Salima District.
Jamali said climate change is associated with environmental degradation and that migrants end up abusing the same environment as they rely on it to sustain their living.
“Migration is a key factor in climate change mitigation measures. Climate change is also a key factor in migration as they both foster environmental degradation,” Jamali said.
He further called for collaboration in efforts aimed at addressing causes and factors of international migration as well as internal migration, which, he said, contribute to climatic environment degradation.
Mecc Programme Officer, Master Simon, expressed optimism that necessary measures would be put in place to address challenges faced by migrants.
“We are hopeful that by bringing these immigration issues into polices and development plans, we will be able to address challenges faced by immigrants,” Simon said.
Mecc has developed documents, collectively called the Mecc Mainstreaming Toolkit, which will guide stakeholders on how they can mainstream migration and environment climate issues in their policies, development plans and other strategic plans.
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