IOM reaches 17.8 million people in 2025 amid widening humanitarian funding gap | Report

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) assisted 17.8 million people across 170 countries and territories in 2025 through USD 1.7 billion in humanitarian and recovery programmes, even as global funding for aid fell sharply, according to a press release issued in Geneva on 05 August 2026. More than 300 million people needed humanitarian assistance in 2025 as conflicts, disasters and displacement pushed global needs to record levels. The figures were released alongside the organization’s 2025 Operating in Crisis Report. IOM emphasized that it remained operational where needs were most acute. The results underscore both the scale of global crises and the pressure on the humanitarian system.

From the Sudan and Gaza to Haiti, Myanmar and the Sahel, crises intensified throughout the year. Aid agencies were forced to make increasingly difficult decisions about where limited resources could be deployed. Mounting pressure across the humanitarian sector shaped operational priorities. IOM continued to focus on the most vulnerable populations. The wider context was defined by contracting resources and expanding needs.

According to the report, IOM provided shelter assistance to 7.3 million people and supported 5.1 million people with water, sanitation and hygiene services. The organization delivered 4.2 million primary health consultations and provided protection assistance to 1.5 million people. It also helped more than 760,000 people move to safety through evacuations, relocations and other forms of movement assistance. These interventions reflect the breadth of IOM’s crisis response. The scope covered both immediate relief and recovery activities.

“2025 was a year of extraordinary pressure for the humanitarian system,” said IOM Deputy Director General for Operations Ugochi Daniels. “Conflicts, disasters, disease outbreaks and displacement drove needs to unprecedented levels, even as resources contracted dramatically. Despite these challenges, IOM remained present where people needed us most.” Beyond direct assistance, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, the world’s largest source of operational displacement data, informed 21 of 23 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans globally in 2025. This helped governments and aid organizations target assistance where it was needed most.

The report also highlights IOM’s growing work along major migration routes, tracking risks and needs across borders. This work helps governments and partners better understand how people move during crises and where support is most urgently required. As humanitarian needs continue to outpace available funding, the report stresses the importance of making humanitarian action more efficient, coordinated and evidence-based. The aim is to ensure that limited resources reach those most in need. The 2025 Operating in Crisis Report is publicly available.