News

IOM, UNHCR: Shipwreck off Libya Claims over 40 Lives
Geneva – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency are deeply saddened by a tragic shipwreck off the Libyan coast yesterday (19/01), the first of 2021 in the Central Mediterranean, which claimed the lives of at least 43 people.

Amid 2020 Pandemic IOM Supported Over 2,500 migrants with Voluntary Return from Greece
Athens – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the voluntary return of some 2,565 people from Greece to their home countries in 2020, in coordination with the Greek authorities and respective countries’ diplomatic representatives.

IOM Assists Border Control on Route Linking Ethiopia, Kenya
Addis Ababa – Ethiopia, Africa’s second largest country (by population) after Nigeria, is also one of the continent’s largest sources of international migrants.

IOM to Portuguese EU Presidency: Reform of Migration Policy Key to Recovery
Brussels – As 2021 begins with a promising COVID-19 vaccine in sight, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) encourages the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) to advance an ambitious, forward-looking reform of European migration policy...

IOM Somalia Supports New ‘Telemedicine’ Enhancement for Migrants and Host Communities
Mogadishu – Somalia’s health system has been in a severely weakened state for decades due to conflict and humanitarian crises which have led to the displacement of more than 2.6 million Somalis.

Thousands of Migrants Forced to Sleep Rough after Closure, Destruction of Bosnia Camp
Bihac – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is stepping up its assistance to the thousands of migrants who will be sleeping rough tonight in Bosnia, which has become a bottleneck as people try to reach the European Union.

EU-IOM Joint Initiative Celebrates its Fourth Anniversary: A Lifeline to Vulnerable and Stranded Migrants amid COVID-19
Brussels – In late August 2020, 118 Ghanaian migrants stranded in Libya due to COVID-19 restrictions were able to go back home.

Brazilian States and Municipalities Receive the MigraCidades Seal
Brasília – In recognition for their progress integrating newcomers from abroad, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) delivered on Wednesday (16/12) the MigraCidades 2020 seal of approval to 21 municipalities...

EU Voluntary Relocations from Malta Top 270 People in 2020 amid COVID-19
Malta – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported the voluntary relocation of 270 people from Malta to other EU Member States this year. Almost a quarter of those relocated this year from Malta were women, and 28 were children under the age of 12.

Increased cooperation between IOM and the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking in Qatar
Doha – In line with the recent laws and reforms that the State of Qatar has put in place to improve labour migration governance for temporary contractual workers, an online meeting was held between the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s mission in Qatar and the...

UN Agencies in Kyrgyzstan and Kosovo Launch United Nations Networks on Migration
Pristina/Bishkek – More than 700,000 of Kyrgyzstan’s 6.3 million citizens work abroad, making an important contribution to the development of the mountainous Central Asian country. The protection of migrants' rights was highlighted as a priority for the Government, and the focus...

Stories of Hardship and Hope: Nigeria Migration Reporter Awards Celebrate Outstanding Journalism
Abuja – Nigeria continues to be a country of origin, transit, and destination of migrants where the media has an influential role in shaping public opinion about migration. Fake news, misinformation and stigmatization have been witnessed before and during the pandemic. As no...