Stories

“In my extended family, I am considered worthless because I can't provide any help or solutions to their problems. Faced with this handicap, some members of the community are sympathetic towards me; others, on the other hand, laugh at me, mock me.”

In a canoe that looks very much like a hollowed-out tree trunk, a gangly man is kneeling in the bow and paddling. He moves smoothly along the shore, handling his long net.

In Iraq, families returning or relocating safely from prolonged displacement need support to acquire the mandatory legal documentation, which are fundamental to access services. Between May 2023 and April 2024 IOM provided crucial protection and legal services to over 4,200 displaced individuals.

Situated between the Maghreb and the Sahel, Mauritania faces significant challenges due to climate change, with more than 200,000 hectares of pastureland lost annually to natural disasters.

In East Africa, 3 years of a catastrophic drought and now severe flooding have contributed to the highest rates of severe and acute malnutrition on record, with children under 5 being the most affected.

Djibouti, a small East African country on the Red Sea, is dealing with a host of crises, including recurrent droughts, locust swarms, flooding, and epidemics.

On the upper floors of an apartment block towering over Giza’s humble village Al Barajil, Ismat, a 64-year-old Sudanese refugee, gazes out from his apartment’s window. His family lives here, 5 members crowded into a very small apartment meant to host fewer people.

For a nation already grappling with significant internal challenges and a difficult economic situation, this influx of refugees is a daunting test. Yet, it has not deterred Moldovans in their desire to help Ukrainians. The small country has shown an incredibly big heart, making room for everyone.

When Mahamat reached the unfinished bridge between Sudan and Chad, he cried out in disbelief "What, was I not in Chad yet?!". Anxious and exhausted, refugees on the lookout for relatives, asked him why he had been walking leisurely in an area where snipers target tall black men like himself.

For decades, the 2,400-kilometre border with Thailand has served as a crossing point for those seeking a better life. Among them are waves of Rohingya refugees who have been fleeing armed attacks and severe human rights violations since the 1970s.

Amid the bustling streets and serene landscapes of Jordan, a new generation of Syrian children is finding their way, far from the homes their families once knew. These children, born in the shadow of conflict, carry dreams and memories that bind them to a homeland they've never seen.

A FAST team supports local authorities in their planning, through fire behaviour simulations, tactical and meteorological analysis, and by drafting response and communications plans. They can also assist operations by dispatching and coordinating ground and aerial resources.

A closer look at the treatment of a malnourished child in southern Ethiopia.

People in the northern Philippines knew the Super Typhoon Doksuri was coming. But when it struck in July 2023, its force took many by surprise. It brought more than a month’s worth of rain in 2 days, damaged some 56,000 houses, and affected 3 million people.

Aisha is just 14 years old. 3 years ago, she fled her village when it was assaulted and burned by one of the armed groups that have been rampaging through the Lake Chad Basin since 2015.

"Unbreakable" best describes Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city. It has faced almost daily Russian shelling since the beginning of the full-scale war. Aerial bombs, missiles, and drones have destroyed infrastructure, devastated residential buildings, and claimed countless lives.

War inevitably brings loss – of lives, health, homes, and cherished dreams. Yet, in the darkest times, the true brightness of humanity shines through.

See what a typical day looks like for Robi - an enthusiastic learner, a dreamer, and a friend.

When a criminal group threatened Sara* and her family, she took the difficult decision to leave their home in search of asylum. As many fellow Mexicans, she embarked on a journey full of hardships to find safety and to secure a better future for her children.