Rural-urban migration in response to environmental degradation and natural hazards is rising at an alarming rate as families seek employment in urban areas.
IOM
IOM offers humanitarian assistance and protection services to a young migrant mother, who undertook a perilous journey to Yemen in search of better livelihood opportunities.
To mitigate the risk of gender-based violence while trading, Rwandese women have found welcome relief from the construction of a one-stop border post initiative by IOM and partners.
Nunzia is convinced everyone should be well-informed about mental health, having migrated two years ago from Venezuela with her daughter, hopeful that they would start a new fulfilling life in Colombia. Lack of jobs and ending up in the streets dealt her daughter a hard blow and Nunzia witnessed her go through mental health problems. Facilitated by Mental Hospital of Antioquia and through telemedicine by IOM, her daughter was able to access much needed health care. Nunzia was introduced to the Community Health Network and today, as a community leader, she passionately promotes the mental health and psychosocial well-being of refugees, migrants, and members of host communities.
Amy Pope, Director General of IOM, is advocating for a new narrative around the issue of migrants, arguing that in an ageing world, “ultimately, countries will be competing for migrants”.
Humanity has always been on the move. Some in search of work or economic opportunity, to join family, or to study. Others move to escape conflict, persecution or large-scale human rights violations. Still others move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters or other environmental factors.
In her very first week on the job, she sat down with UN News’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer to talk about a comprehensive view of migration and its causes.
Photo Credit: © IOM
The digital transformation, the exponential spread of digital technologies, digitalization and the use of digital technologies to add value, offer an opportunity to develop and deliver tailored and innovative services to both migrants and communities.
Rahama looked through the window, amid a raging armed conflict in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, and all she saw was smoke and guns firing in from every direction. She feared for her family and her unborn third child. Going back home to Ethiopia offered better survival chances for the entire family. She had a successful delivery soon after arriving in Metema facilitated by IOM and its partners. IOM’s Migration Response centers have provided life-saving services including health screening, protection services and provision of water and sanitation facilities to families escaping the conflict in Sudan.
Ruma, a 38-year-old widowed single mother of one from a small town in southern Bangladesh experienced social harassment after her husband died, forcing her to migrate. Through an arranged marriage of convenience, she made it to Italy. Despite her attempts to succeed in Italy she decided to return home to Bangladesh, where she learned about the IOM’s Prottasha project. The team has provided her with financial literacy and in-kind support. She has finally been able to provide for her son who is currently pursuing his future.
Despite several attempts at searching for a better future for his family, Moharaj, he ran into one problem after another resulting in failure. After being smuggled into Syria he hoped to make it to Italy. One year later, he boarded an overloaded boat to seek refuge on an island in Greece. He eventually discovered that IOM provided support to migrants who voluntarily chose to return home. Due to an injury that left him permanently disabled, IOM extended much needed support through the Prottasha project, which has rekindled hope in his family.
Sasha, a passionate swimmer, had been training for nine years preparing for the Olympics, until he was derailed by the war in Ukraine. IOM has helped Sasha and his family on the journey to Budapest.
Dr Youssouf, leads the IOM’s mobile health patrols in the Djibouti dessert looking for abandoned, stranded or otherwise vulnerable migrants to provide life-saving assistance. These mobile units carry medical supplies, food, water and other essential items. According to IOM data, the number of women and girls travelling along the Eastern Route – from the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti) to Yemen – nearly doubled between 2021 and 2022, from 53,200 to 106,700. In Djibouti, the percentage of women and girls on the move rose from 13 per cent in 2021 to 22 per cent in 2022. Since the beginning of the patrols in 2020, IOM has aided more than 18,000 migrants.
Rouah Abuzamazem works with the Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism Unit in IOM Libya. IOM assists rescued migrants with health assistance, psychosocial support and humanitarian direct assistance such as provision of hygiene kits and clothes. By working closely with the Libyan authorities, particularly with the detention centre management, IOM is also working to enhance living conditions for detained migrants through rehabilitation of the detention centre facilities, human rights training of staff, health assistance, psychosocial support and humanitarian direct assistance.
Climate anxiety grips fishermen in Pakistan
Muhammad Kasim, his wife, and eldest son repair fish nets damaged during the recent floods. “We come from a family of fishermen. Fishing is in our blood – it is my badge of honour. It’s also our only source of income,” said Kasim. His lifelong profession and source of income for his large family is now in jeopardy until waters recede and ecological balance is restored. Income from fishing heavily depends on the season. As the floods struck during peak fishing season, local fishermen will have to seek other options to put food on the table. In 2022, the Government of Pakistan launched the “Living Indus” initiative to restore the river’s ecosystem, so the Indus basin can become resilient to climate change.
Despite restrictions on women's freedom of movement and an environment of fear, female humanitarian workers continue to provide vital support to Afghan women. Every month, IOM provides assistance to 162,000 women in Afghanistan.