The International Organization for Migration (IOM)  has  welcomed the visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lampedusa, describing it as  a powerful reaffirmation that migrants and refugees must remain at the centre of global efforts to save lives and uphold our shared humanity. 

“Lampedusa has become a symbol of both unimaginable loss and extraordinary compassion,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Pope Leo XIV’s visit reminds us that behind every migration statistic is a human life. We have a shared responsibility to save lives, protect human dignity and ensure that no one has to risk their life in search of safety or opportunity.” 

The visit comes as the Central Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. According to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, more than 26,000 migrants have died or gone missing along this route since 2014. In 2026 alone, at least 865 people have already been reported dead or missing, despite a significant decline in arrivals to Italy. 

Since 2006, IOM has been present in Lampedusa, working alongside Italian authorities and partners to support people arriving by sea from the moment they are rescued, through the first stages of arrival and reception, during their stay at the hotspot, and throughout their transfer from the island. 

During his visit, Pope Leo XIV stopped at Molo Favaloro, the main landing point for migrants arriving in Italy by sea, where he blessed a plaque dedicating the site to Pope Francis, whose 2013 visit to Lampedusa drew the world’s attention to the suffering of migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean and warned against the “globalization of indifference.” 

More than a decade later, that message remains as urgent as ever. While migration routes and patterns continue to evolve, the humanitarian imperative remains unchanged: lives must be protected, vulnerable people must be assisted, and human dignity must remain at the centre of all responses. 

The visit also reflects Pope Leo XIV’s own calls to uphold the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees. Earlier this year, the Holy Father reaffirmed that every migrant is a person whose inalienable rights must be respected and stressed that efforts to combat criminality and human trafficking should never come at the expense of the dignity of migrants and refugees. 

Echoing this call, IOM continues to advocate for international cooperation, effective action against migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, greater investment in safe, regular and orderly migration pathways, and a steadfast commitment to protection. 

As Pope Leo XIV visits Lampedusa, IOM reiterates its commitment to supporting migrants, assisting governments and working with partners to build migration systems that save lives, protect human dignity and are safe, orderly and humane.

The International Organisation for Migration, IOM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have welcomed the growing investment in long-term solutions to internal displacement.

A new report from the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF) shows that government-led commitments are advancing solutions to internal displacement and translating into tangible results.

The Fund, established by the United Nations Global Solutions Hub, supported 10 joint programmes with catalytic investments of up to USD 3 million each in 2025. These efforts helped unlock approximately USD 2.5 billion in national budget allocations for the protection of and solutions for internally displaced people, and mobilized more than USD 850 million in development finance. 

The report shows that targeted investments are helping strengthen public systems and expand access to housing, land, livelihoods, and basic services for both displaced people and host communities.

“The evidence is clear: when we invest in systems that help people rebuild their lives, displacement becomes more manageable and communities grow stronger,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. “The challenge now is to scale this approach by aligning funding, policies, and partnerships so progress leads to lasting change.”

“Internal displacement is not only a humanitarian challenge; it is a development and governance priority. The IDSF is helping governments embed solutions into national plans and unlock much larger sources of financing. Together with international financial institutions and the private sector, we now have an opportunity to scale nationally led solutions that deliver lasting stability and opportunity,” said Shoko Noda, UNDP Crisis Bureau Director.

“Over 10 million internally displaced people returned home in 2025 – the highest level in years – showing that solutions are possible when governments, communities and partners come together. Yet many returns remain fragile, underscoring the importance of the IDSF, and sustained investment in national systems and self-reliance to ensure lasting and dignified solutions to end the cycle of displacement,” said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations.

Programmes supported by the Fund have helped allocate nearly 98,000 hectares of land for housing, livelihoods, and local integration. They have also enabled more than 200,000 displaced people to obtain legal documentation, improving access to services, employment and public support. The Fund also demonstrates strong leverage, mobilizing an estimated USD 168 from development actors for every USD 1 invested.

Despite progress, the report notes that results remain uneven. Many countries continue to face new or ongoing displacement, insecurity, and limited resources. While policy frameworks and coordination mechanisms are improving, stable, predictable financing is still lacking.

Looking ahead, the report calls for stronger alignment between development financing and national strategies, deeper engagement with international financial institutions and the private sector, and more inclusive approaches that ensure displaced people are involved in decisions that affect them.

The European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have launched a new regional programme to help countries better anticipate, prevent and respond to climate displacement as cyclones, floods and droughts continue to uproot communities across Southern Africa.

The launch comes as climate-related displacement continues to rise across the region. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 17.3 million internal displacements were recorded in 2025, including 2.9 million linked to disasters. Southern Africa remains particularly exposed to recurring cyclones, floods and droughts, with the 2024–2025 cyclone season triggering more than 826,000 displacement movements.

“Communities across Southern Africa are already living with the consequences of a changing climate,” said Fatma Said, IOM Chief of Mission in Malawi. “Families are losing homes, livelihoods and, in some cases, the ability to remain where they have lived for generations. This programme will help governments and communities better anticipate displacement risks, strengthen preparedness and take action before people are forced to move.”

The Regional Responses to Climate Displacement in Sub-Saharan Africa (RE2CLID) Programme was officially launched in Malawi during a high-level meeting in Lilongwe on 15 June 2026. Funded by the European Union and implemented by IOM in partnership with governments and stakeholders across the region, the initiative aims to strengthen preparedness, improve data and forecasting systems, and support solutions that reduce displacement risks before disasters strike.

Among the regions most affected is the Southern Africa and South-West Indian Ocean (SAIO) cluster, comprising Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles. Increasingly frequent climate shocks continue to damage homes, disrupt livelihoods, and place growing pressure on communities and national systems.

Across the region, communities are grappling with the growing impacts of climate shocks on their homes, livelihoods and futures. Modestar Stoken, a community representative from Mangochi, shared how recent flooding forced many families in her community to start over after losing their homes and land.

“The floods were far worse than anything we had experienced before,” she said. “Many families lost their homes and can no longer return to where they once lived. We are grateful to have been allocated land to start again, but we still need support to rebuild our lives.”

The RE2CLID Programme seeks to help communities like Modestar’s by supporting governments and local authorities to better understand displacement risks and integrate them into climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and development planning.

The programme will be implemented in close collaboration with national and local authorities, including ministries, government departments, district councils, and traditional leaders. It will also engage regional organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), alongside international and civil society partners, to promote coordinated and locally driven responses.

Speaking at the launch, Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Patricia Wiskes, MP, emphasized the Government’s commitment to addressing the growing impacts of climate change and displacement.

“The Government of Malawi recognizes the urgency of addressing climate-induced displacement as part of our broader efforts to strengthen resilience and support sustainable development,” she said. “The RE2CLID Programme provides an important opportunity to better understand displacement risks and strengthen our capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to them.”

Recognizing that climate displacement often extends beyond national borders, the programme also places a strong emphasis on regional cooperation. Through strengthened coordination, knowledge sharing, and joint planning, participating countries will work together to address common challenges and develop more harmonized approaches to managing climate-related mobility.

“The RE2CLID Programme reflects the European Union’s commitment to building climate resilience by working closely with national institutions and local communities,” said H.E. Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi. “By linking data, financing and implementation, the programme addresses a critical gap in current climate and disaster response systems related to climate-induced displacement.”