
On June 11, the UN migration agency said at least 49 migrants were killed and more than 140 were missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen.
About the International Organization of Migration (IOM):
- Introduction: The IOM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to providing services and guidance on migration matters to government bodies and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
- Establishment: The IOM was founded in 1951.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland is where the IOM's headquarters are situated.
- Membership: 175 member states and 8 observer states constitute the IOM's membership.
- Mandate: The IOM's objective is to facilitate orderly and humane migration for the betterment of all parties involved, by providing services and counsel to both governments and migrants.
- Publications: Among their publications are the World Migration Report and the Migration Health Annual Report.
Key Areas of Work:
- Migration and Development: The IOM is dedicated to maximizing the positive impact of migration for the countries of origin, destination, and the migrants themselves, by implementing strategies for sustainable development.
- Migration Health: The organization provides medical care and support to migrants and displaced populations.
- Emergency Operations: By setting up emergency relief and post-crisis recovery programs, such as transport assistance, temporary shelter, and infrastructure reconstruction, the IOM responds to humanitarian crises.
- Counter-Trafficking: The organization is heavily involved in the fight against human trafficking by launching prevention, protection, and prosecution initiatives, while extending support to victims of trafficking.
What is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)?
- On December 14, 1950, the United Nations General Assembly formed the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- The organisation's mission is to supervise and facilitate international refugee protection and problem-solving efforts.
- Its main goal is to protect the rights and well-being of refugees.
- UNHCR aims to guarantee that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in a different country, with the options of voluntarily returning home, integrating locally, or relocating to a third country.
- Additionally, its mandate extends to supporting stateless individuals.