USD 91 Million Appeal Launched to Support Migrants in Africa

Geneva/Nairobi, 18 February 2026 – A fresh USD 91 million appeal has been launched to provide critical support to migrants along key migration routes in Africa. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with 48 partner organizations, is seeking funding to deliver life-saving assistance to migrants from the Horn of Africa traveling along the Eastern Route to Yemen and the Gulf countries, and the Southern Route towards Southern Africa. The appeal also aims to support the communities hosting these migrants.

A Shared Responsibility

“Migration along these routes is a shared responsibility,” stated IOM Director General Amy Pope. “The 2026 Migrant Response Plan brings governments and partners together to protect people on the move and support host communities under pressure. With sustained commitment, we can reduce suffering, strengthen resilience, and respond to this crisis with the coordination and humanity it demands.”

Perilous Journeys and Escalating Risks

Each year, thousands of migrants – including vulnerable children – primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia, undertake dangerous journeys through Djibouti towards Yemen, hoping to reach Gulf countries in search of safety, security, and employment opportunities. Others travel south from the Horn of Africa, passing through Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi, with the goal of reaching South Africa.

These migrants face significant risks, including violence, exploitation, hunger, dehydration, arbitrary detention, and other forms of abuse. 2025 marked the deadliest year on record for the Eastern Route, with over 900 migrants dying or going missing. Since 2018, IOM has been leading the regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Southern Africa to address the growing humanitarian crisis along these corridors.

The 2026 Migrant Response Plan

“The 2026 MRP gives us an opportunity to mobilize the resources and partnerships needed to scale up these efforts,” said Dereje Tegybelu, CEO of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Focal Person for Returning Citizens at the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs in Ethiopia. “Ethiopia is committed to working alongside all migration partners to strengthen protection systems, expand opportunities for youth, support climate-resilient livelihoods, and enhance community stability in high migration areas.”

The plan focuses on delivering life-saving aid and protection services, expanding access to voluntary return and reintegration programs, and supporting community stabilization initiatives. It also aims to improve data collection and strengthen partnerships for a coordinated, route-based response. The plan seeks to engage the private sector to boost reintegration, economic opportunities, and long-term resilience for both migrants and host communities.

Renewed Commitment and Collective Action

“Today’s launch therefore presents more than a formal milestone,” said Hon. Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, Cabinet Secretary, State Department for Culture, the Arts, and Heritage. “It is a moment to renew our collective commitment, a moment to strengthen partnerships, and a moment to align our efforts behind a shared vision of migration that is inclusive and forward-looking.”

Urgent Need for Funding

Current funding levels are insufficient to meet the increasing needs of migrants from the Horn of Africa. Additional resources are urgently required to address immediate humanitarian and protection needs, tackle the root causes of irregular migration, and strengthen long-term resilience for migrants and host communities.

Without increased funding, life-saving assistance will be disrupted, exposing migrants to greater risks of harm, exploitation, and preventable deaths. Shelters in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti could be forced to close, cutting off critical medical care, protection, and safe accommodation – particularly for trafficking survivors, unaccompanied children, and those facing violence.

Partner Organizations

The organizations involved in this effort include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), and regional bodies such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as well as governments across East, Horn & Southern Africa.

For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.