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Back-to-back extreme weather events batter Pacific, IOM urges greater preparedness
Back-to-back Category 4 extreme weather events have hit Pacific island countries, affecting hundreds of thousands of people, disrupting essential services and prompting the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to call for greater investment in preparedness and early action.
Tropical Cyclone Maila struck Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea after intensifying in the Solomon Sea, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall and flooding to vulnerable coastal and island communities. Typhoon Sinlaku hit the Federated States of Micronesia, triggering a state of emergency, causing deaths and displacement, damaging homes, infrastructure and water systems, and undermining local livelihoods.
“This is yet another reminder that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and unpredictable,” said Iori Kato, IOM Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “Without sustained investment in preparedness and early warning systems, the region risks facing devastating human and economic costs. This is a critical window for action.”
In Solomon Islands, the Government declared a State of Disaster for Western and Choiseul Provinces, with impacts also reported in Isabel, Central and Guadalcanal Provinces. Preliminary estimates suggest more than 150,000 people were affected, with severe damage to homes, schools, health facilities and transport networks.
In Papua New Guinea, the Autonomous Bougainville Government declared a State of Emergency, with 22 confirmed fatalities and more than 15,000 people in urgent need of assistance. Damage and displacement were also reported in Milne Bay, East New Britain and West New Britain, with more than 65,000 people affected in East New Britain alone.
In the Federated States of Micronesia, Typhoon Sinlaku damaged homes and public buildings, disrupted power and communications, blocked roads and worsened drought-induced water shortages in Yap State, prompting a State of Emergency. At least four fatalities have been confirmed.
As governments lead response efforts, IOM is supporting national emergency coordination and delivering critical relief items, including tarpaulins, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, jerrycans, and water purification units.
In coordination with partners, IOM is distributing relief supplies in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Micronesia, drawing on prepositioned stocks in the region. This support was made possible by the Governments of Australia, Japan and the United States, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency. IOM is also supporting data collection, including through activation of the Displacement Tracking Matrix in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, to help guide the response.
Beyond the immediate response, IOM is also working with Pacific governments to strengthen people-centred early warning systems and preparedness in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. With support from the Government of Japan, this work focuses on improving coordination, making sure warnings reach even remote communities, working more closely with radio stations and mobile networks, and helping people in high-risk areas know what to do before disasters strike.
Preliminary findings point to urgent needs for safe shelter, basic household supplies, clean water and sanitation, and access to healthcare. Restoring electricity, communications and transport links will be critical to reaching affected communities and supporting recovery.
With forecasts pointing to a possible strengthening El Niño and a potentially more severe cyclone season ahead, IOM is urging increased support for humanitarian response, preparedness and early warning systems.
Leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world will gather in Porto from July 1–3, 2026, for the 2nd CEAUP International Conference on Migration, hosted at the University of Porto partner location at Instituto Pernambuco Porto Brasil.
The event will take place at Instituto Pernambuco Porto, Rua das Estrelas 143, Porto, Portugal.
Organized by the Migration Observatory Lab at the Center for African Studies of the University of Porto, in collaboration with international partners including Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria, the conference will focus on the theme:
“Migration and Artificial Intelligence: Governance, Ethics, and Future Pathways.”
The conference will examine the evolving intersection of migration and artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on how emerging technologies are reshaping migration governance, ethical standards, and future global mobility trends. Through a series of panels, keynote sessions, and discussions, participants will engage with some of the most pressing global challenges and opportunities in this field.
Akinwale Roy Ojomo, lead researcher and convener of the conference, stated that:
> “The urgency in creating innovative ideas supported by AI technology is the reason we are gathering in Porto, Portugal this year.”
One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Koko Warner, Director at the IOM Global Data Institute in Geneva, will discuss how big data can help address migration challenges in Europe.
Bisi Obateru, founder of Just I Guide, a U.S.-based company, will present practical solutions on the use of AI in processing immigration protocols online.
Numerous abstracts have been received, and key practitioners have confirmed their participation in the hybrid event. In addition to in-person attendance, participants will have the opportunity to join virtually.
The three-day conference is expected to attract an international audience of researchers, institutional representatives, and professionals, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
Invitations have been sent to AIMA and the European Union for goodwill messages, particularly in light of the recent rollout of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The conference will also witness the launch of the JAPA Process Theory and Modeling, a strategy designed to help countries of origin create information portals for legal migration pathways and reduce irregular migration.
The organisers can be reached through any of the following:
Email:
Phone: +351 920 658 116
Nigerian has the highest number of West African migrants set to be repatriated from the US.
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the removal of 110 Nigerians as part of a wider crackdown that will see 355 nationals from the sub-region returned home.
The DHS yesterday published names and photographs of all 355 individuals listed for deportation under its “WOW” West Africa Operations Watch initiative, reports The Guardian.
Nigeria accounts for 110 of those listed, second only to Liberia with 94, and far ahead of Ghana’s 30 and Senegal’s 19.
The list also includes 15 Cameroonians, 14 Gambians, 14 Ivorians, 12 Mauritanians, 11 Cape Verdeans, nine Burkinabes, eight Nigeriens, six Guineans, six Togolese, five Malians, and 1 each from Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
As diaspora remittances now outpace both official development assistance and foreign direct investment combined, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) today published a new paper showing how stronger engagement with diaspora communities can enhance humanitarian response and support recovery efforts worldwide.
The paper highlights how diaspora communities mobilize resources rapidly, reach affected populations through trusted networks, and deliver locally informed, culturally attuned solutions, yet remain only partially integrated into formal humanitarian systems.
“Diaspora communities are some of the most agile and trusted partners in crisis response,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. “This paper shows how we can move beyond spontaneous solidarity to real, structured partnerships that strengthen local responses before, during and after crises. By connecting diaspora communities with humanitarian efforts, IOM helps ensure support gets to people quickly, effectively and with trust.”
Drawing on case studies from Haiti, Lebanon, the Philippines, Somalia and Ukraine, the report documents concrete results: the Ukrainian diaspora raised USD 283 million in the first year of the conflict, while over 100 diaspora organizations mobilized within days of Haiti’s 2021 earthquake.
These examples reflect a broader trend: in 2024, diaspora remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached an estimated USD 700 billion, surpassing official development assistance and foreign direct investment combined.
The report shows how structured diaspora engagement has supported preparedness, enabled lifesaving response and accelerated recovery through early warning systems, safer shelter and health services, innovative financing mechanisms and community-led recovery efforts.
The paper also outlines practical priorities for donors and partners, including flexible funding mechanisms, digital coordination tools, strengthened data partnerships, and tailored capacity-building support. It contributes to IOM’s broader efforts and informs a forthcoming IOM Diaspora Strategy that positions diaspora engagement as a core pillar across the Organization’s work.
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