International migrants make up 4.7% of the , playing a crucial role in economic growth, yet face challenges such as higher unemployment and gender disparities.
Migrants
Although migrants often face significant challenges, they play a critical role in labour markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic issues in aging societies. Observed annually on 18 December, International Migrants Day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. On this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a future where migration is safe, orderly, and mutually beneficial. Together, step by step, we can build a better world for all. #EveryStep
Sahar, a 19-year-old Afghan woman, overcame abuse and homelessness after returning from Iran, determined to support her brothers and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
Cesar’s family highlights the resilience of families who, despite facing exploitation and violence, cross borders daily in search of safety and a better future.
How is the recent mpox outbreak impacting refugees and displaced people in Africa? The surge in mpox cases has raised concerns about its potentially devastating impact on people living in crowded camps. The 51³Ô¹Ï High Commissioner for Refugees ( is currently working with partners to contain the outbreak. To gain more insight into the situation, UNHCR interviewed Dr. Allen Maina, Chief of Public Health at the UN Refugee Agency, to understand what mpox is and how it is affecting refugees and other displaced people.
Four Rohingya boys—Muhammed, Riyad, Ahmed, and Sultan—find solace in football and the support of shelter staff in Thailand as they prepare for resettlement in Canada, holding on to dreams of education and brighter futures.
In her role as a Protection staff member with the International Organization for Migration (), Latifa dedicates herself every day to supporting vulnerable communities in Yemen.
Meet musician Austin Zhang who uses the power of music, by harmonizing his saxophone jazz melodies with a recording of his mother’s own story of migration to accentuate the emotions of her story. In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #s, the Office of the 51³Ô¹Ï High Commissioner for Human Rights () focuses on how migration is not one-dimensional and why telling individual stories of migration, which reflects all dimensions of people can help avoid the pitfall of triggering a harmful narrative about migration.
Amara and Aisha, ages 16 and 15, are from Eastern Ethiopia. Both decided to seek better economic opportunities in Saudi Arabia, inspired by a neighbor's sister who had found financial success there. They enlisted the help of a local smuggler to travel through Somalia and Yemen to reach Saudi Arabia, with the promise of finding work as maids to gradually pay off the smuggling fees. They escaped the smugglers in Bossaso, on the northern coast of Somalia, and found refuge at a local Migration Response Centre (MRC) run by the International Organization for Migration ().
In 2023, Yemen saw a significant arrival of women and girls from the Horn of Africa, totalling 21,130, including 3,773 girls. Many of these migrants endured severe forms of sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation, inflicted by ruthless traffickers and smugglers. Rehana was one of those who faced these horrors firsthand. Arriving at the International Organization for Migration () facilities in Aden, many migrants, like Rehana, suffer from injuries, severe dehydration, and abuse. Held by smugglers in abysmal conditions, they endure physical and sexual violence. Rehana, like many others, receives mental health and psychological support at the Migrants Response Point, aiding her emotional recovery.
On June 10, 2024, a boat capsized off Yemen's coast near Shabwah, resulting in 56 deaths and 129 missing migrants, with Dr. Abdulraheem Al Mehdar of the IOM heroically leading rescue efforts.
Frederick's journey highlights the harsh realities faced by migrants, but through a program by , he and others like him receive comprehensive support to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
The "" project in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, seeks to bridge important gaps in social protection access and policy for the region's migrant workforce.
As of 20 April 2024, the International Organization for Migration () and the UN Refugee Agency () in Pakistan that over 550,000 Afghans returned to Afghanistan under coercive conditions since last September. Over 31,000 Afghans were detained in Pakistan during the same period. Afghanistan will struggle to absorb the high number of returnees. IOM provides legal aid to displaced Afghans while leading a border consortium of humanitarian partners. The Organization calls for countries to halt forced returns until safe, dignified, and voluntary returns are ensured.
Over the past 13 years, conflict has ravaged Northwest Syria, leaving scars on both the land and its people. In February 2023, after earthquakes dealt a further blow, crippling vital water infrastructure, residents of camps in the northwest faced prolonged water shortages due to damage sustained by a crucial elevated water tank. However, the International Organization for Migration () managed to reconstruct three elevated water tanks, restoring access to safe and clean water for over 67,500 earthquake-affected communities.