Latest news with #IOM
Libya Review
an hour ago
- Libya Review
IOM: 415 Migrants Intercepted & Returned to Libya
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that 415 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya between 6 and 12 July 2025, marking another intense week along the Central Mediterranean migration route. According to IOM data, the interceptions occurred at several key coastal points. On 6 July, 237 migrants were stopped near Sabratha, followed by 49 migrants on 7 July near Tripoli. Another group of 92 migrants was intercepted on 12 July. Additionally, 37 men were returned to Derna on 7 July. Tragically, the update also reports the recovery of multiple deceased bodies along the route: five near Misrata on 6 July, two near Derna on 8 July, and three more the following day. These incidents underscore the deadly risks facing migrants who attempt the dangerous sea crossing to Europe. So far in 2025, a total of 12,338 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya. This includes 10,653 men, 1,136 women, and 404 children. Another 145 individuals were recorded without specified gender. The IOM also reported 317 deaths and 286 people missing on the Central Mediterranean route since January. These figures reflect a continued pattern from previous years. In 2024, 21,762 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya, with 665 deaths and over 1,000 reported missing. In 2023, over 17,000 migrants were intercepted, with nearly 1,000 deaths and 1,536 missing. Although the IOM does not take part in interception operations, it provides vital support at disembarkation points, including emergency medical care. The agency maintains that Libya is not a safe port for migrants and calls for urgent international action to provide safer migration routes and better protection mechanisms. Tags: IOMlibyaMediterraneanmigration
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Japan Embassy in Riyadh partners with IOM to fund Yemen youth training
RIYADH: Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yoichi Nakashima partnered with the International Organization for Migration to grant about $2.5 million in aid supporting vocational training for youth, including internally displaced persons in Yemen. Signing the exchange notes in Riyadh on Sunday alongside Nakashima were Ashraf El Nour, head of the IOM office in Riyadh, and Mansour Bajash, undersecretary for political affairs at Yemen's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Japanese envoy told Arab News that this cooperation is critical given the ongoing economic difficulties in Yemen, saying: 'We made this decision to support the Yemeni people who are going through this exceptional time and to address urgently needed areas such as vocational training.' He explained that Yemen faces rising unemployment due to the prolonged conflict. The country's public technical and vocational training centers have significantly reduced their operations due to infrastructure damage and lack of funds. Approximately 4.7 million IDPs — about one-seventh of the population — are unable to earn an income because they lack technical skills, making employment difficult. Nakashima highlighted that this agreement may benefit a large number of people, especially IDPs, who are particularly affected by the situation. This cooperation aims to rehabilitate technical and vocational training centers and provide capacity development training in three southern governorates: Aden, Lahj, and Taiz. It is also expected to help increase employment opportunities for young people by expanding vocational training and enhancing economic resources. A joint press statement from the embassies of Japan and Yemen noted that supporting peace and stability in Yemen, which borders the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, will contribute to securing sea lanes. The government of Japan expressed its commitment to continue working proactively toward achieving peace and stability in Yemen, in cooperation with the UN and relevant countries.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
UN migration chief warns of Ukraine war fatigue and aid cuts impact
ROME: Fatigue over the war in Ukraine and U.S.-led foreign aid cuts are jeopardising efforts to support people fleeing hardship, the head of the U.N. migration agency warned in an interview on Friday. International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope was speaking a day after a Ukraine recovery conference in Rome mobilised over 10 billion euros ($11.69 billion) for the country. 'It's three-and-a-half years into the conflict. I think it's fair to say that everybody is tired, and we hear that even from Ukrainians who've been experiencing the ongoing attacks in their cities and often have been displaced multiple times,' she told Reuters. 'The response to it, though, has to be peace, because ultimately, without peace, there won't be an end, not only to the funding request, but also to the support for the Ukrainian people.' Russia's invasion has triggered Europe's biggest refugee crisis this century, with 5.6 million Ukrainian refugees globally and 3.8 million uprooted in their country, according to U.N. data. The IOM and other U.N. agencies are hampered by major funding shortages as U.S. President Donald Trump slashes foreign aid and European donors like Britain shift funds from development to defence. U.S. decisions will give the IOM a $1 billion shortfall this year, Pope said, saying budget reductions should be phased gradually or else Trump and others risk stoking even worse migration crises. 'It doesn't work to have provided assistance and then just walk away and leave nothing. And what we see happening when support falls is that people move again ... So (the cuts) can ultimately have a backlash,' she said. WARNING FOR U.S., PRAISE FOR ITALY Pope, 51, is the first woman to lead the IOM and a former adviser to the Obama and Biden administrations who is now working with Trump's White House on so-called 'self-deportations'. She said the IOM has decades of experience of such programmes in Europe and they take time to implement, especially to prepare returnees and check they are going voluntarily. 'That doesn't always move as quickly as governments would like,' Pope said. Asked whether the IOM would stop working with the U.S. if the returns turned out to be forced, she said: 'We've made clear to them what our standards are, and as with every member state, we outline what we can do and what we can't do, and they understand that, and it is part of the deal.' After Rome, Pope was on her way to Washington to meet with Trump administration officials and U.S. lawmakers. Turning to Europe, she praised Italy's decision to increase migrant work permits to nearly 500,000 for 2026-2028, coming from a right-wing government otherwise pursuing tough border policies. 'What Italy is doing is taking a realistic look at what labour they need, what skills they need, what talent they need. And then they're designing a system to allow people to come in through a safe and legal channel,' Pope said. ($1 = 0.8557 euros) - Reuters
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
RPT-Everybody is tired of war in Ukraine, UN migration chief says
Conflict fatigue and aid cuts threaten most vulnerable UN migration agency warns of backlash from aid cuts First woman to lead IOM coordinating with Trump government Amy Pope praises Italy for increasing migrant work permits ROME, - Fatigue over the war in Ukraine and U.S.-led foreign aid cuts are jeopardising efforts to support people fleeing hardship, the head of the U.N. migration agency warned in an interview on Friday. International Organization for Migration Director General Amy Pope was speaking a day after a Ukraine recovery conference in Rome mobilised over 10 billion euros for the country. "It's three-and-a-half years into the conflict. I think it's fair to say that everybody is tired, and we hear that even from Ukrainians who've been experiencing the ongoing attacks in their cities and often have been displaced multiple times," she told Reuters. "The response to it, though, has to be peace, because ultimately, without peace, there won't be an end, not only to the funding request, but also to the support for the Ukrainian people." Russia's invasion has triggered Europe's biggest refugee this century, with 5.6 million Ukrainian refugees globally and 3.8 million uprooted in their country, according to U.N. data. The IOM and other U.N. agencies are hampered by major funding shortages as U.S. President Donald Trump slashes foreign aid and European donors like Britain shift funds from development to defence. U.S. decisions will give the IOM a $1 billion shortfall this year, Pope said, saying budget reductions should be phased gradually or else Trump and others risk stoking even worse migration crises. "It doesn't work to have provided assistance and then just walk away and leave nothing. And what we see happening when support falls is that people move again ... So can ultimately have a backlash," she said. WARNING FOR U.S., PRAISE FOR ITALY Pope, 51, is the first woman to lead the IOM and a former adviser to the Obama and Biden administrations who is now working with Trump's White House on so-called "self-deportations". She said the IOM has decades of experience of such programmes in Europe and they take time to implement, especially to prepare returnees and check they are going voluntarily. "That doesn't always move as quickly as governments would like," Pope said. Asked whether the IOM would stop working with the U.S. if the returns turned out to be forced, she said: "We've made clear to them what our standards are, and as with every member state, we outline what we can do and what we can't do, and they understand that, and it is part of the deal." After Rome, Pope was on her way to Washington to meet with Trump administration officials and U.S. lawmakers. Turning to Europe, she praised Italy's decision to increase migrant work permits to nearly 500,000 for 2026-2028, coming from a right-wing government otherwise pursuing tough border policies. "What Italy is doing is taking a realistic look at what labour they need, what skills they need, what talent they need. And then they're designing a system to allow people to come in through a safe and legal channel," Pope said.
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
'Everybody is tired' of war in Ukraine, UN migration chief says
ROME: Fatigue over the war in Ukraine and US-led foreign aid cuts are jeopardising efforts to support people fleeing hardship, the head of the UN migration agency warned in an interview on Friday (Jul 11). International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope was speaking a day after a Ukraine recovery conference in Rome mobilised over €10 billion (US$11.69 billion) for the country. "It's three-and-a-half years into the conflict. I think it's fair to say that everybody is tired, and we hear that even from Ukrainians who've been experiencing the ongoing attacks in their cities and often have been displaced multiple times," she told Reuters. "The response to it, though, has to be peace, because ultimately, without peace, there won't be an end, not only to the funding request, but also to the support for the Ukrainian people." Russia's invasion has triggered Europe's biggest refugee this century, with 5.6 million Ukrainian refugees globally and 3.8 million uprooted in their country, according to UN data. The IOM and other UN agencies are hampered by major funding shortages as US President Donald Trump slashes foreign aid and European donors like Britain shift funds from development to defence. US decisions will give the IOM a US$1 billion shortfall this year, Pope said, saying budget reductions should be phased gradually or else Trump and others risk stoking even worse migration crises. "It doesn't work to have provided assistance and then just walk away and leave nothing. And what we see happening when support falls is that people move again ... So (the cuts) can ultimately have a backlash," she said. WARNING FOR US, PRAISE FOR ITALY Pope, 51, is the first woman to lead the IOM and a former adviser to the Obama and Biden administrations who is now working with Trump's White House on so-called "self-deportations". She said the IOM has decades of experience of such programmes in Europe and they take time to implement, especially to prepare returnees and check they are going voluntarily. "That doesn't always move as quickly as governments would like," Pope said. Asked whether the IOM would stop working with the US if the returns turned out to be forced, she said: "We've made clear to them what our standards are, and as with every member state, we outline what we can do and what we can't do, and they understand that, and it is part of the deal." After Rome, Pope was on her way to Washington to meet with Trump administration officials and US lawmakers. Turning to Europe, she praised Italy's decision to increase migrant work permits to nearly 500,000 for 2026-2028, coming from a right-wing government otherwise pursuing tough border policies.
