The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations migration agency, has announced that it provided humanitarian assistance to 17.8 million people across 170 countries and territories in 2025, underscoring its expanding role in responding to global humanitarian crises.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the agency’s latest annual report highlighted extensive humanitarian interventions in conflict and disaster affected regions, including Gaza, Haiti, Myanmar, Ukraine and the Sahel, where millions of vulnerable people received lifesaving support.
Established in 1951, the IOM works to assist refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants while supporting governments in developing safe, orderly and humane migration policies.
The report revealed that the organisation provided shelter assistance to 7.3 million people, helping families displaced by conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies secure temporary accommodation and essential protection.
In the health sector, IOM conducted 4.2 million primary healthcare consultations, providing medical services to populations with limited access to healthcare, while 5.1 million people benefited from water, sanitation and hygiene programmes designed to reduce disease outbreaks and improve living conditions.
Beyond direct humanitarian assistance, the organisation said its data and field assessments contributed to 21 humanitarian response plans, enabling governments, humanitarian agencies and development partners to better identify priority areas and allocate resources more effectively.
The report stressed that evidence based planning and stronger coordination have become increasingly important as humanitarian needs continue to outpace available funding.
Commenting on the findings, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, Ugochi Daniels, said the world witnessed unprecedented humanitarian challenges in 2025 as conflicts, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and mass displacement continued to drive growing levels of need.
She noted that these challenges were compounded by significant reductions in global humanitarian funding, making it more difficult for aid agencies to meet rising demands.
Despite the financial constraints, Daniels said IOM remained committed to supporting vulnerable communities wherever assistance was most urgently required.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s determination to continue delivering lifesaving humanitarian support while working with governments and partners to improve protection, resilience and recovery for displaced populations worldwide.
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