The Director-General, International Organisation for Migration, Amy Pope, has said migrants play critical roles in labour markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic challenges in aging societies.

Ms Pope made this known on Wednesday in her message to mark 2024 International Migrants Day.

The day is marked annually on December 18 and spotlights the contributions of millions of migrants around the world.

Ms Pope said that it was also a day to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurred.

According to her, migrants boost economic growth and provide a lifeline to families and communities back home, driving development.

“Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity. 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,” she said.

She added that IOM was launching its Global Appeal for 2025 to harness its potential and meet rising humanitarian needs worldwide

Ms Pope noted that the vital funding would support IOM programming across more than 170 countries and territories, with a goal of reaching over 101 million people.

Ms Pope stated, “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.”

She noted that IOM was committed to maximising the impact of every dollar, improving efficiency, partnering locally, and leveraging data to better plan and respond to evolving needs. 

(NAN)