During her visit to Djibouti, Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), called on the international community to increase investment in comprehensive migration management that integrates humanitarian aid with long-term development. Djibouti, located at the crossroads of the Horn of Africa, plays a crucial role in regional migration and stability. Daniels observed the difficult conditions faced by migrants traveling along the Eastern Route and commended the Government of Djibouti for its commitment to assisting both migrants and host communities despite limited resources.
Every year, migration flows through Djibouti equal to more than one-third of its population, making it one of the busiest and most dangerous migration corridors globally. Daniels emphasized that the scale and complexity of these movements require collective global action to strengthen resilience, create opportunities, and support Djibouti’s leadership in managing migration.
Despite ongoing challenges such as irregular migration and the loss of lives in harsh desert terrains, Djibouti continues to demonstrate how innovation and community-driven approaches can transform migration into an opportunity for development and resilience. During her visit, Daniels met with Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, government officials, community members, and IOM teams working to link humanitarian assistance with sustainable growth.
She visited several community-led projects that exemplify this vision. In Douda, women are leading climate-resilient agriculture initiatives to improve food security and reduce displacement pressures. In Ali Sabieh, a waste management project is creating decent jobs and enhancing community well-being. At Lake Assal and Galileh, IOM teams are collecting vital data on migration patterns to guide timely humanitarian responses, while mobile teams deliver life-saving services to migrants in extreme conditions.
At the policy level, IOM and the Government of Djibouti are collaborating to promote safe and regular migration pathways, including labour mobility programs with Canada and initiatives to engage the Djiboutian diaspora in national development. A milestone agreement with the World Bank was also signed during the visit, aimed at expanding labour mobility and enhancing youth employment opportunities through skills development.
Seven years after the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, IOM renewed its call for sustained international cooperation to protect lives, strengthen resilience, and ensure migration benefits both migrants and host communities.
