News 16 January 2026 IOM Unveils 2026 Plans to Reach 22 million in Crisis Across 32 Countries

Geneva, 16 January 2026 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has released its 2026 Crisis Response Plans, a set of 32 prioritized country and regional plans outlining how the Organization will respond to the world's most urgent humanitarian crises, detailing our evidence-based, people-centered response.

At a time when global humanitarian needs continue to rise, these plans aim to reach 22.7 million people - migrants, internally displaced persons, and host communities - with life-saving assistance and resilience-building interventions. Delivering this response will require $2.5 billion, reflecting the scale of human need and is integral to our Global Appeal 2026.

For 2026, we have had to prioritize, focusing on the most urgent needs and engaging where we can make the most difference, in partnership with communities, governments, and a wide range of other actors. While the USD 2.5 billion funding requirement is a reduction compared to previous years. It does not reflect a reduction in needs - rather, it ensures that limited resources are directed to where needs and impacts are greatest focusing on the most severe crises, the most vulnerable populations, and the interventions most likely to save lives and stabilize communities, while maintaining flexibility to scale up as funding becomes available.

The scale of the challenge is stark. As we recently reported, in Sudan nearly one in three people has been displaced, either internally or across borders, since the outbreak of the conflict. In 2026, IOM seeks USD170 million to assist 1.3 million people affected by this war - working with partners to address the most urgent humanitarian needs, while strengthening resilience among displaced and returning populations. We are prioritizing support to local actors and institutions, investing in their capacity to deliver quality assistance for a more sustainable, locally-led response.

Across all 32 plans, the underlying equation is clear; millions of lives depend on timely, predictable funding. The 2026 Crisis Response Plans translate global needs into actionable priorities, demonstrating how every dollar invested contributes directly to reaching people in crisis, providing safety, dignity, and pathways to recovery.

IOM calls on partners, donors, and the international community to engage with these plans and support a response that is proportionate to the scale of need, grounded in evidence, and centered on people whose lives have been upended by crisis and displacement.

For more information, please visit IOM's Media Centre.