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UN warns about impact of US shutdown on migrants

UN warns about impact of US shutdown on migrants

The U.N. Migration Agency said on Tuesday it will be forced to reduce or close projects in many countries due to unprecedented donor funding cuts this year. This will have a serious impact on migrants.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that it expects funding to drop by 30% in 2018 due to the major reduction of U.S. funded projects following President Donald Trump's announcement to overhaul aid funding.

IOM stated that this would result in the reduction or termination of projects for over 6,000 employees worldwide, including more than 250 staff at its Geneva headquarters. However, it did not provide a complete breakdown or specific details about which projects were affected.

IOM stated in a press release that "the reduction in funding has serious impacts on vulnerable migrants, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and undermining essential support systems for displaced population."

The number of people forced to leave their homes by disasters, conflict and climate change is expected to increase. IOM aims to provide a humane, orderly and safe migration process for these people and intervenes when necessary.

Amy Pope, an American who served as a White House advisor to U.S. president Joe Biden from 2023 until now, has led the organization. This raises questions about her and how she would do under Trump, his successor. The United States, which provided over $1.4 billion to the organization in 2023, is its largest donor.

IOM stated that migration is central to global stability and security.

"The international community cannot ignore migration governance." "It is essential for future stability in the world to address forced displacements, climate-induced catastrophes and mobility." ?

This year, funding cuts have affected other programmes that help refugees and migrants. U.N. Refugee Agency said that cuts have closed programmes designed to protect young girls in South Sudan from child marriage and a safe-house for women displaced in Ethiopia who are in danger of death. (Reporting and editing by FriederikeHeine, Thomas Seythal, and Ed Osmond.)

(source: Reuters)