The Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) Nigeria has called on the Nigerian government to impose diplomatic and economic consequences on South Africa over the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, while urging authorities to provide comprehensive support for citizens who have returned home.

In a statement issued on July 1 and signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Solomon Okoduwa, IYAMIDR commended the Federal Government and the Edo State Government for coordinating the rescue and safe return of Nigerians affected by the violence in Southern Africa.

The organisation, however, said the successful evacuation of victims should not mark the end of the government’s response, stressing that those responsible for failing to prevent the attacks must be held accountable.

According to IYAMIDR, the repeated incidents of xenophobic violence represent a political and moral failure on the part of South African authorities. It urged the Nigerian government to adopt targeted diplomatic and political sanctions, including a review of bilateral agreements and increased scrutiny of South African investments operating in Nigeria.

The group also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency and the National Assembly to publish a clear sanctions and engagement framework within 14 days.

Beyond diplomatic action, IYAMIDR appealed to both the federal and state governments to establish an emergency Reintegration and Livelihood Fund for returnees.

It said many of those evacuated lost businesses, homes and livelihoods during the attacks and now require psychosocial support, medical care, skills assessment, housing assistance and financial grants to rebuild their lives.

The organisation stressed that any intervention fund should be transparent, independently monitored and include mechanisms through which beneficiaries can report delays or corruption.

IYAMIDR further urged the Edo State Government to move beyond receiving returnees by fully implementing its Reintegration Master Plan.

According to the group, the plan should focus on employment opportunities, cooperative financing, trauma counselling and community-based programmes aimed at restoring the dignity and economic independence of returnees.

The organisation maintained that the issue extends beyond South Africa, describing it as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens wherever they may be.

IYAMIDR pledged to continue monitoring developments and advocating for justice, accountability and effective reintegration of Nigerians affected by the attacks.

A new data released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) shows that about 2,800 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in June, marking a 10% decrease compared with the previous month,

Since the beginning of 2026, a total of 14,388 migrants have reached Italy by sea, representing a 30% decline compared with the same period in 2025.

The UNHCR said that 56% of all arrivals so far this year have involved Lampedusa.

On the humanitarian front, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 1,400 people lost their lives in the Mediterranean during the first six months of 2026. According to the agency, 62% of those deaths occurred along the central Mediterranean route.

Since January, Libya has remained the main country of departure, accounting for 83% of migrant landings in Italy. Algeria and Tunisia together accounted for a further 8%.

The UNHCR said that, between January and June, migrants from Bangladesh made up 30% of arrivals, followed by Somalia at 11% and Sudan at 10%.

The agency also reported that unaccompanied minors represented 19% of all sea arrivals during the first half of the year.

Between January and June 2026, 22% of people arriving by sea were rescued in the Mediterranean by non-governmental organisations, according to the UNHCR.

As the reality of funding cuts begins to show, millions of people are being completely abandoned by the world, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Half-way through 2026, NRC regrettably noted that humanitarian funding for some of the world’s most neglected displacement crises remains at rock bottom.

“2026 is a make-or-break year for millions in desperate need around the world from Venezuela to Sudan. Families whose lives have been shattered by conflict are increasingly struggling to survive. Violence and displacement continue unabated, while spiraling inflation puts basic goods out of reach all at a time when aid is declining due to a lack of funding. If the world doesn’t choose to change course, we will see a massive loss of lives,” said Jan Egeland, NRC’s secretary general. 

Six months into the year only 30 per cent of the funding needed to support 143 million people out of the 252 million people in need of aid globally has been received.

“Global generosity for victims of conflict and disasters is abysmal. Without a dramatic increase of support, countless communities in need of aid will have little chance of being helped this year. We urgently need to see countries able to fund space missions and World Cups step up to support people living through crisis,” said Egeland.

“Families I have spoken to in Sudan, Iran, Gaza and Ukraine this year all told me they felt forgotten by the world. But it is not too late to change this.”

The drop off in funding from countries in North America, Europe and other affluent nations is hurting certain regions especially hard. Some of the world’s most chronically neglected crises are seeing desperately low levels of funding.   

“Countries must allocate funding based on the level of need, not their own geopolitical and nationalistic interests. They must not simply focus on those featured on the frontpages. We commend the effort of Sweden who continue to give based on the objective assessment of needs, and hope others will follow suit,” said Egeland.

Afghans, that for many years saw a robust humanitarian response and a huge and expensive Western military operation, is now one of the peoples with the least funding. This shift is in part due to the ending of all US humanitarian support to the country, despite the US having contributed more than 40 per cent of all aid to Afghanistan up to 2024. This drop in funding comes at a time when 21.9 million people require aid, and millions are returning from neighbouring countries. Just 11 per cent of adults who have returned to Afghanistan are fully employed. 

“This year for the first time Afghanistan features on NRC’s list of the world’s most neglected crises. Now we are seeing funding for Afghanistan hit record low levels with just one in every six dollars needed for aid currently available. Families tell us the drop in aid has left them without a lifeline and without access to even basic services. Donors must heed the warnings before millions more fall into hunger and desperation,” said Egeland.

“Our lives have got worse from the last two years. My husband used to work from time-to-time and humanitarian organisations also used to come in this area to assist us. Now, we don’t see much of that assistance, and my husband is unemployed and most days is unable to get work,” said Momina, a 45-year-old mother of six from Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.

Countries in the Central Sahel dominate the list of lowest funded humanitarian responses with Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali making up three of the five least funded plans in 2026. Millions face displacement, worsening protection conditions, and the loss of basic services. Alongside the dire levels of humanitarian funding, the region has also seen a sharp decline in development financing that has weakened already fragile systems and left schools and health facilities struggling to function. 

“For too long, the Central Sahel has faced chronic underfunding and neglect. Humanitarian funding is essential, but without longer-term investment the conditions that leave people increasingly vulnerable, such as lack of services, limited opportunities, and rising displacement, will only deepen. Investing now is key to reducing future crises and unlocking the region’s potential. It is both a necessity and an opportunity for millions of people,” said Egeland. 

“We must ensure parents can give hope and opportunities to their children that ends the cycle of neglect. 2026 must not go down in the record books as the year the world turned its back.”