An appeal has been launched to raise $US4.7 billion to help the globe’s 41 million people on the move and make migration arrangements around the world safe, orderly and regular.

The figure is what the UN’s migration agency IOM needs to provide protection, opportunity and stability for migrants.

Launching IOM’s 2025 Global Appeal, the organisation’s Director General Amy Pope said people moving in search of protection, safety and opportunity need sustained, principled support. 

“Every day, people leave their homes in search of stability or better opportunities. Through this Appeal, we are building on a collective vision – one where humanitarian support reaches people before crises escalate, where safer pathways replace dangerous journeys, and where communities are strengthened rather than stretched,” Ms Pope said.

“These investments do more than address today’s challenges; they help shape a more stable, humane, and hopeful future for us all.” 

The appeal comes as the world faced increasing and intersecting crises.

One in four people live in fragile settings marked by instability, conflict or disaster.

By the end of 2024, 83.4 million people were internally displaced due to conflict, violence, persecution and disasters, while new emergencies continued to push communities beyond their coping capacity.

“This past year has tested our collective resolve, yet it has also driven innovation, strengthened partnerships and advanced solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives,” Ms Pope said.

“Around the world, migrants continue to face uncertainty and risk, as conflict, climate impacts and economic instability reshape mobility patterns. The global migration landscape remains fluid – with narratives shifting amid growing challenges for migrants and those working to support them. And while needs multiply across regions, resources to meet them are increasingly limited.

“In this context, voluntary, safe and dignified return and sustainable reintegration play an essential role in strengthening stability and supporting long-term development, providing governments with solutions that uphold rights while investing in resilient communities,” Ms Pope said.

She said climate shocks were intensifying these pressures.

In 2024, disasters displaced 9.8 million people, representing a 27 per cent increase from 2023, and global economic losses reached $US 242 billion.

Irregular migration also continued to carry severe risks, with more than 5,500 deaths and disappearances recorded in 2025, an IOM statement said. 

“At the same time, migration is also driving resilience, innovation, and opportunity. More than 304 million people are international migrants, including 168 million workers whose skills sustain essential sectors and support communities worldwide,” Ms Pope said.

“Migrants bolster economies, staff hospitals, support agriculture, and run small businesses. Remittances reached $US 905 billion in 2024, demonstrating how safe and dignified migration strengthens development and stability. 

“In a context where needs are rising and resources are stretched, IOM’s Appeal calls for sharper prioritisation, flexible funding and more efficient systems to meet urgent needs while supporting long-term solutions,” Ms Pope said.

The appeal includes $US 1.5 billion to protect people on the move to ensure displaced families have access to shelter, clean water, medical care, protection and other essential services. This includes mobile health assistance in conflict-affected areas, temporary shelter after extreme weather events, and strengthened humanitarian supply chains, so aid reaches people quickly and safely.

It also includes $US 1.5 billion to reduce risks, bolster community resilience and support governments in transitioning from crisis response to recovery. This includes restoring livelihoods, helping local authorities plan safer settlements, using data and innovation to anticipate risks, and supporting national systems to withstand future shocks. 

Another $US 1.3 billion is needed to support safe and regular migration pathways, helping governments strengthen labour mobility, uphold migrants’ rights, and improve systems that generate shared benefits for societies and economies. This includes cooperation on voluntary, safe and dignified return, readmission and sustainable reintegration, as well as advancing a route-based approach to support governments in responding to complex movements with coherent, data-informed solutions. 

IOM has urged governments, donors and partners to renew their commitments.

“We call on the international community to invest in stability, safety and dignity for people on the move and for the communities that receive them, ensuring that migration becomes a driver of sustainable progress for all,” Ms Pope said.

Read more here: Global Appeal 2026 | IOM, UN Migration