People queue to fill containers with water from a tank in Sana'a, Yemen. Photo: UNICEF/Algabal 2017

Humanitarian Catastrophe Looms in Yemen with Over 3.3 Million Displaced Since Crisis Began
Posted on Tue. April 25, 2017

Yemen - Yemen has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. In total, 18.8 million people need humanitarian or protection assistance. Since 2015, of the 3.3 million people who have been forced to flee their homes to seek safety, two million remain displaced and nearly 1.3 million have returned to the governorates they originated from. With no end in sight for the conflict, displacement is set to continue to increase.

Today (25 April), the United Nations and the governments of Switzerland and Sweden host a High-level Pledging Event in Geneva, Switzerland, for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen. Laura Thompson, the Deputy Director General of the UN Migration Agency, is attending this event.

“We cannot close our eyes to the mobility dimensions of this crisis. IOM has, since the escalation of violence in 2015, scaled up its response in Yemen to assist displaced populations and host communities,” said Ambassador Thompson. “In 2017, IOM is committed to doing more and will continue to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid, with a specific focus on the immediate and longer-term needs of migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the conflict and natural disaster affected communities in Yemen,” she continued.

Read on | Share on 

Returned persons from Kasala village, Kasai Province, awaiting food distribution by the NGO COPROMOR and Christian Aid. Photo: Joseph Mankamba / OCHA-DRC

DR Congo: Kasai Emergency Response Benefits from Initial UN Migration Agency Funding
Posted on Tue. April 25, 2017

Democratic Republic of the Congo - The UN Migration Agency Director General William Lacy Swing has approved the release of USD 100,000 from the agency’s Operational Support Income budget to kick-start relief operations for more than 1.1 million people displaced by widespread hostilities to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s south central Kasai region. 

An upsurge in the fighting between Government forces and tribal militias in the provinces of Kasai, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Lomani and Sankuru has affected up to 2.4 million people with more than 11,000 Congolese having fled to neighbouring Angola. 

“This internal funding allows us to cover a crucial period between the start-up of our emergency operations for the Kasais and the donor response,” said Jean-Philippe Chauzy, IOM, the UN Migration Agency’s DRC Chief of Mission. “We continue to work with our UN, Congolese and Angolan counterparts to see whether it is possible to launch a cross-border emergency relief operation to reach southern areas of the Kasai, which until now remain inaccessible because of widespread insecurity and a poor network of roads.” 

Read on | Share on 

More IOM Headlines

UN Migration Agency, Partners Redouble Efforts to ‘End Malaria for Good’
Read more

Humanitarian Needs Spike for Thousands Displaced in Wau, South Sudan
Read more

Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals Top 43,000 in 2017; Deaths: 1,089
Read more

UN Migration Agency Director General Commends South Africa’s Progressive Approach to Migration
Read more

UN Migration Agency Organizes ‘Migration and Displacement in Iraq’ Conference in Erbil
Read more

USAIM for IOM Expands Board of Directors
Read more

“i am a migrant” is part of the UN TOGETHER initiative that promotes respect, safety and dignity for everyone who has left home in search of a better life. More here

Fikry: "Migration should be considered as a positive thing. It has the potential to help countries innovate, give new energy and a new rhythm."
Share on Twitter | Facebook

A global database tracking data on deceased and missing migrants along migratory routes. Please visit: MissingMigrants.iom.int

"We must promote and encourage migrant inclusion in national/state/provincial health service planning and all malaria services in all six [Greater Mekong Sub-region] countries." –  Dr. Nenette Motus, Director, IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. More here.