Introduction: 304 Million Lives in Motion
In a world defined by unprecedented human mobility, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has emerged as one of the most vital agencies in the United Nations system. As the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, IOM today operates at the intersection of humanitarian aid, climate action, development policy, and labor economics. With 304 million international migrants worldwide and over 120 million people displaced globally, the agency’s work has never been more urgent—or more complex.
This article examines the state of IOM today, drawing on the latest developments from the past month and the agency’s most recent strategic initiatives. From groundbreaking climate mobility frameworks in Africa to critical humanitarian operations in Sudan and Somalia, the organization is redefining what it means to manage migration in the 21st century.
Part 1: The World Migration Report 2026 – Key Findings
Just weeks ago, on May 5, 2026, IOM released its flagship World Migration Report 2026 during the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) week at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The report’s central finding is striking: restricting safe and regular migration pathways does not stop migration—it merely diverts it into more irregular and dangerous routes.
“Across the world, migration helps drive jobs, economic growth, stability and social cohesion,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope at the report’s launch. “Every country has the right to shape its own migration policies. The evidence shows, however, that when States cooperate at regional and global levels, migration is better managed, helping to build public trust and deliver stronger benefits for economies, communities and people on the move”.
The report reveals several critical data points. By mid-2024, international migrants constituted approximately 3.7 per cent of the world’s population—a share that has grown gradually over time. The number of international migrant workers increased by more than 30 million between 2013 and 2022. Remittances in 2024 were expected to reach an estimated USD 905 billion, including USD 685 billion flowing to low- and middle-income countries—figures that now exceed official development assistance and foreign direct investment combined.
However, the report also highlights troubling inequalities. Migration pathways have expanded more for people in higher-income countries while remaining constrained for those in lower-income contexts, reinforcing global mobility inequalities. This trend is slowing labour mobility and reducing the potential economic gains migration can deliver.
Part 2: Climate Mobility – IOM’s Growing Focus on Environmental Displacement
Perhaps the most significant evolution in IOM’s mandate today is its deepening engagement with climate-induced displacement. In March 2026, IOM’s Climate Mobility Innovation Lab (CMIL) convened a Regional Symposium on Climate Mobility in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC).
The three-day event brought together representatives of governments, academic institutions, the private sector, and practitioners engaged in adaptation and development across Africa. At the heart of the discussions was the development of the Risk Index for Climate Displacement (RICD) —an innovative tool designed to identify the most vulnerable areas and promote targeted interventions in adaptation, resilience, and preparedness.
The symposium placed particular emphasis on IGAD countries, including Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda, where the RICD will be implemented at the national level. This represents a concrete step toward anticipatory action: identifying where climate-driven displacement is likely to occur before it happens, allowing governments and humanitarian actors to prepare rather than merely react.
Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, attending the symposium, reaffirmed its commitment to IOM’s climate agenda through the Mattei Plan for Africa and the Rome Process. Roberto Amerise, Head of the Division for International Cooperation at MASE, stated that initiatives like CMIL “pursue solutions grounded in robust data and strong community engagement”.
Part 3: The Mediterranean Climate Mobility Innovation Lab
Building on its African work, IOM has also launched a parallel initiative for the Mediterranean region. In January 2026, the Climate Mobility Innovation Lab for the Mediterranean was officially launched in Rome, following the signing of an agreement between IOM and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.
The Mediterranean, warming faster than the global average and representing one of the world’s main migration corridors, is considered a priority area for anticipatory action based on scientific evidence. The Lab operates as a regional hub of IOM’s Global Climate Mobility Innovation Lab, bringing together governments, the scientific community, civil society, the private sector, and local communities to address the drivers of migration—including those linked to environmental factors.
Supported by a three-year budget, the Mediterranean CMIL aims to develop inclusive and sustainable solutions such as nature-based solutions, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure. Particular emphasis will be placed on the involvement of young people, women, and persons with disabilities, as well as on cooperation with African countries.
Italian Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto expressed “great satisfaction with the collaboration we are building with IOM,” describing the initiative as founded on “sustainability and innovation” with “shared responsibility in the face of climate and human challenges”.
Part 4: Somalia – Drought Displaces 62,000 in Early 2026
The climate-displacement connection is perhaps most visible in Somalia, where IOM reported on April 24, 2026, that 62,000 people had been displaced across five districts since the beginning of the year. Three out of every four new displacements are due to drought, representing a 22 per cent increase from the previous year—a stark indicator of the increasing severity of climate shocks.
“Drought is already forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes, and many more could be displaced in the months ahead,” warned Manuel Pereira, Chief of Mission for IOM Somalia. “When water disappears, crops fail and livelihoods collapse, displacement becomes a last resort. Without swift action, drought will continue to uproot communities, deepen hunger and increase vulnerability across Somalia”.
According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), nearly 125,000 more people are projected to be displaced by drought in the second quarter of 2026, even if the Gu rainy season brings normal to above-normal rainfall. The hardest-hit districts include Baidoa, Dayniile, Kahda, Diinsoor, and Doolow, where worsening drought conditions drive crop failure and the collapse of livelihoods.
The DTM projections indicate that drought-related mobility, particularly among pastoral and farming communities, is expected to increase further if rainfall conditions do not improve. Yet urban centres are not capable of rapidly absorbing sudden population growth, leaving many newly displaced families to settle in informal or underserved areas where access to basic services remains extremely limited.
Part 5: Sudan – Nearly 4 Million Returns Amid Fragile Conditions
While climate drives displacement in Somalia, conflict continues to drive one of the world’s largest displacement crises in Sudan. On April 21, 2026, IOM warned that nearly 4 million people have voluntarily returned across Sudan, but a lack of basic services and damaged infrastructure risks making those returns unsustainable.
At the height of the conflict, which plunged Sudan into civil war in April 2023, nearly 12 million people fled heavily affected areas, while more than 4 million crossed into neighboring countries. According to IOM, nearly 9 million people remain internally displaced.
Most returns have been concentrated in Al Jazirah and Khartoum, where people are returning despite ongoing destruction and limited services. “For many people, returning home should mark the beginning of recovery. Instead, too often it means confronting destroyed services, damaged homes and new uncertainty,” said SungAh Lee, IOM Deputy Director General for Management and Reform.
“People need access to basic services, safe housing and ways to restore their livelihoods. Without that support, safe and dignified returns become much harder to sustain,” she added.
Damaged water systems, electricity networks, health facilities, and housing in Khartoum, as well as broken agricultural systems in Al Jazirah, continue to complicate recovery efforts. The IOM also warned that its 2026 crisis response plan for Sudan remains underfunded by $97.2 million, noting that more than 2 million additional people are expected to voluntarily return to Khartoum alone this year.
Part 6: Sudan Government Engagement – Prime Minister Meets IOM Director General
On February 5, 2026, Sudan’s Prime Minister Professor Kamil Idris met with IOM Director General Amy Pope in Geneva to discuss the humanitarian situation and the displacement crisis caused by the ongoing conflict.
The Prime Minister expressed the Government of Sudan’s gratitude to IOM and its leadership for their pivotal role in responding to the humanitarian crisis. He reviewed the challenges facing Sudanese abroad and the impediments confronting returnees, reaffirming the government’s expectation that IOM will take a greater role in supporting voluntary return, reintegration, and early recovery.
Prime Minister Idris also briefed Director General Pope on the Government of Hope Peace Initiative, describing it as a purely national framework and a comprehensive solution that addresses the full complexities of the imposed war. The initiative outlines a roadmap to sustainable peace, the end of hostilities, and the creation of a favourable environment for voluntary return and reconstruction.
Director General Pope welcomed the initiative and affirmed IOM’s commitment to scaling up efforts through its Khartoum office to support displaced persons, refugees, and national recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Part 7: Strengthening Migration Data – The League of Arab States Partnership
Recognizing that good migration governance begins with good data, IOM has taken significant steps to strengthen migration data systems across the Middle East and North Africa. On May 4, 2026, the League of Arab States (LAS) and IOM signed a Joint Workplan (2026–2028) aimed at strengthening migration data governance across the region.
The signing took place one day ahead of the International Migration Review Forum in New York, underscoring the region’s commitment to advancing the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
H.E. Ambassador Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, emphasized that reliable, comparable, and policy-relevant migration data is essential for informed governance, economic planning, and regional cooperation. “Strengthening how we collect, share, and use migration data is no longer optional—it is essential for evidence-based policymaking across Arab Member States,” he said.
The Joint Workplan aims to foster coordinated actions across three strategic pillars: strengthening migration data governance, supporting member states in sustaining coordination and standardization, and capacity development and knowledge production.
Part 8: The Tashkent International Migration Forum
IOM’s global reach was also on display in mid-May 2026, when the agency co-convened the first Tashkent International Migration Forum in Uzbekistan, bringing together more than 600 participants from over 40 countries across Central Asia, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
The forum focused on the “Social and Legal Protection of Labor Migrants and Their Family Members,” demonstrating the growing importance of migration as a factor in sustainable development and economic stability. According to the 2026 World Migration Report, 168 million of the world’s 304 million international migrants are labor migrants, making significant contributions to the global labor market.
Arthur Erken, IOM Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, emphasized the importance of the forum: “At a time when human mobility is shaping economies and societies worldwide, this Forum provides an opportunity to define how migration can be managed in a way that maximizes its potential and benefits both migrants and societies alike”.
Part 9: The Protection Gap – Migrants in Crisis
Behind the reports, partnerships, and forums lies a sobering reality: migrants and displaced persons remain among the world’s most vulnerable populations. In Somalia, drought-displaced families face overcrowded conditions in informal settlements, limited access to safe water and sanitation, and inadequate shelter—compounding already severe humanitarian needs.
In Sudan, nearly 9 million people remain internally displaced, and the 2026 crisis response plan remains critically underfunded. The gap between needs and resources continues to widen, even as displacement grows.
The World Migration Report 2026 underscores that most displacement occurs within countries rather than across borders, and is increasingly shaped by a combination of conflict, environmental pressures, and structural vulnerabilities. Many of the largest displacement situations are protracted, requiring longer-term, development-oriented responses alongside humanitarian assistance.
Part 10: The Road Ahead – Challenges and Opportunities
As IOM looks toward the remainder of 2026 and beyond, several challenges loom large. The funding gap for humanitarian operations continues to widen, even as needs grow. The Sudan response plan’s $97.2 million shortfall represents only one of many funding gaps across IOM’s global portfolio.
Climate change will only accelerate displacement pressures. The development of tools like the Risk Index for Climate Displacement is essential for anticipatory action, but such tools require sustained investment and political will to translate into meaningful protection for vulnerable communities.
Yet there are also reasons for optimism. The World Migration Report 2026 makes clear that well-managed migration can be a powerful driver of development and stability. Remittances continue to flow at record levels, diaspora communities maintain vital economic and social links across borders, and safe migration pathways—when available—support labour markets, address skills gaps, and drive innovation.
The expansion of partnerships—with the League of Arab States on data governance, with Italy on climate mobility, with Uzbekistan on labor migration—demonstrates that multilateral cooperation on migration remains possible even in a fractious geopolitical environment.
Conclusion: An Indispensable Agency for an Age of Mobility
The International Organization for Migration today is, quite simply, indispensable. Whether tracking displacement in real-time through its Displacement Tracking Matrix, developing climate risk indices to anticipate future crises, appealing for life-saving funds for Sudan, or convening global forums on labor migration, the agency operates at every level of the global migration landscape.
As IOM Director General Amy Pope has consistently argued, the evidence is clear: cooperation works. When states cooperate at regional and global levels, migration is better managed, public trust is strengthened, and the benefits of human mobility are shared more broadly.
In a world where 304 million people live outside their country of birth, where climate change is driving unprecedented displacement, and where conflict has forced millions from their homes, that message has never been more urgent—or more hopeful. The IOM’s work today is not merely about managing migration. It is about ensuring that migration, whether forced or voluntary, can be a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and shared prosperity for all.
