Tegucigalpa, Honduras, May 14, 2024 — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) launched the "Safe Return" program. This five-year initiative seeks to ensure the dignified and safe reintegration of returnees and internally displaced people, providing them with the tools to achieve prosperity in Honduras.
"Safe Return" will be implemented by the IRC in collaboration with the Honduran Red Cross and Plan International Honduras. The program will focus on improving reintegration services in 15 prioritized municipalities and strengthening civil society organizations that assist displaced populations and communities hosting returnees. The IRC, known for its reintegration programs in the U.S. and Europe, will adapt proven methodologies to the Honduran context.
USAID and IRC key focus areas:
- Improve municipal and civil society services for returnees, with emphasis on education, employability, psychosocial support and gender-based violence prevention.
- Connect people with economic opportunities through workforce development courses, entrepreneurship programs and access to employment.
- Guarantee access to reliable information about the rights and services available in their communities.
- Facilitate reintegration with community activities and promote social cohesion.
In the launch event participated Ken MacLean, Director of USAID/Honduras; Julio Rank Wright, IRC Regional Vice President for Latin America; Ron Glass, Safe Return Program Director; and representing the Government of Honduras, Lizeth Coello, Minister of the Secretariat of Childhood, Adolescence and Family (SENAF) and Max Rodríguez, Advisor to the Undersecretary of State in the Office of Consular and Migration Affairs.
For more than 60 years, USAID has worked with the government and people of Honduras in the fight against corruption, conflict resolution, citizen security and other efforts on the path to stability and new opportunities. Through investments in resilient societies and providing humanitarian aid in times of crisis, USAID continues to support the United States' enduring commitment to international leadership and aid.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's most severe humanitarian crises, helping to restore the health, safety, education, economic well-being and power of people devastated by conflict and disasters. Founded in 1933 by Albert Einstein's call to action, the IRC works in more than 50 countries and 28 U.S. cities helping people survive, regain control of their future, and strengthen their communities.