Happy International Migrants Day 2024

A message from the International Office for Migration:

“Today, we proudly celebrate International Migrants Day. 

This day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It’s also a day for us to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs. Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity. 

This last year, we saw record levels of internal displacement, rising humanitarian needs across ongoing and new crises, and, tragically, the highest-ever death toll of migrants in transit. Yet alongside these challenges, are stories of resilience, progress and hope. Where safe and well-managed migration holds extraordinary potential. Migrants play critical roles in labor markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic challenges in aging societies. Migrants boost economic growth and provide a lifeline to families and communities back home, driving development. 

To harness this potential and meet rising humanitarian needs worldwide, IOM is launching its Global Appeal for 2025. This vital funding will support IOM programming across more than 170 countries and territories, with a goal of reaching more than 101 million people. 

IOM’s work will continue to focus on our three key strategic objectives:

• Saving lives and protecting people on the move. 
• Driving solutions to displacement. 
• And supporting pathways for safe, regular and orderly migration. 

At IOM, we’re committed to maximizing the impact of every dollar – improving efficiency, partnering locally, and leveraging data to better plan and respond to evolving needs. Together, we can continue building a world where migration is safe, orderly, and beneficial – for everyone.”

KJ