The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched its 2026 Global Appeal, requesting USD 4.7 billion to support 41 million people on the move and reinforce systems that make migration safe, orderly, and regular.
The Appeal outlines a growing reality that people are moving in search of protection, opportunity, and stability. It becomes clear that despite the strain the world is faced with, there is motion being undertaken to ensure sustained and principled investment.
Migration is unfolding against a backdrop of intersecting crises, with statistics indicating that one in four people now lives in fragile environments marked by conflict, disaster, or instability.
Towards the end of 2024, 83.4 million people were internally displaced due to conflict, violence, and climate-linked disasters, stretching the capacity of local systems and eroding resilience.
The voluntary, safe, and dignified return coupled with sustainable reintegration has become increasingly essential for stability as some of the pathways offering governments workable, rights-upholding solutions as communities navigate prolonged shocks.
Climate impacts continue to push mobility trends to new thresholds. In 2024 alone, disasters displaced 9.8 million people, a 27% jump from 2023, while global economic losses reached USD 242 billion. Irregular migration remained deadly, with more than 5,500 deaths and disappearances recorded in 2025.
IOM Director General Amy Pope would commend these efforts, remarking that every day, people leave their homes seeking stability or better opportunities. This is a reality that is apparent as much as it is in most times, surpassed or overlooked.
“We’re working toward a future where support reaches people before crises escalate and safer pathways replace dangerous journeys,” said Amy.
At the same time, migration remains a driver of resilience and opportunity. More than 304 million people are international migrants, including 168 million workers vital to essential sectors. Remittances reached USD 883 billion in 2024, highlighting how safe and dignified mobility fuels development and stability across borders.
IOM’s Appeal calls for sharper prioritization, flexible funding, and more efficient systems to meet rising needs while supporting long-term solutions. It aligns with three strategic pillars that anchor the Organization’s work:
1. Saving lives and protecting people on the move — USD 1.5 billion
To ensure displaced families can access shelter, clean water, medical care, protection, and other essential services. This includes mobile health teams in conflict zones, temporary shelter after climate disasters, and strengthened supply chains so assistance reaches communities quickly.
2. Driving solutions to displacement — USD 1.5 billion
To reduce risks, bolster community resilience, and support governments in shifting from response to recovery. Key areas include restoring livelihoods, planning safer settlements, using data to anticipate climate and conflict risks, and strengthening national systems against future shocks.
3. Facilitating pathways for regular migration — USD 1.3 billion
To reinforce labour mobility, uphold migrant rights, and support systems that generate shared socioeconomic benefits. This includes cooperation on safe return and reintegration, rights-based readmission processes, and a route-based approach ensuring governments can respond coherently to complex movements with data-informed solutions.
With global needs rising and resources stretched, IOM is urging governments, donors, and partners to scale up solidarity and investment. At the heart of this Appeal is a simple proposition: supporting people on the move strengthens global stability.
As IOM asserts, investing in safety, dignity, and orderly mobility is not just a response to crisis; it is foundational to a more resilient and humane future.
