The Caribbean
 Situated at the crossroads between North and South America, the Caribbean is both a destination and transit point for migrants travelling between the two continents. The Caribbean faces a wide range of challenges, from intra- and extra-regional migration to natural disasters. In particular, the region is situated in the direct path of hurricanes, which puts it at risk every year. Given the small size of the Caribbean islands, residents often suffer tremendous disruptions to their daily lives when natural disasters strike already weak island states. Also, as a direct result of its location and the steady movement of its inhabitants, the Caribbean is a very attractive target for various criminal elements, including human and drug traffickers and smugglers. Responding to the region's needs, over the past sixteen years IOM has concentrated its activities on priorities identified jointly with regional governments. These include: combating human trafficking, promoting inter-state dialogue, building capacities in migration management and operational procedures, promoting migrants' rights (including access to health care), increasing income-generating options in post-conflict and/or post-disaster, unstable environments, and facilitating labour migration. July 2011 |
