IOM, UNHCR and partners seek $763m for LAC

Europe tends to dominate the migration conversation, but LATAM and the Caribbean are quietly seeing displacement (and its consequences) on a massive scale. The UN and IOM, with 150+ partners, just launched a $763 million appeal to support migrants, refugees, and host communities. That figure alone should underscore the magnitude.

Migration flows are shifting from North --> Nowhere as the US has taken a hostile approach to its southern border while political leaders across the region use anti-immigration talking points to consolidate support.

I've said for months the region feels a bit like a kettle starting to boil, and I see this appeal as an attempt to keep a hand on the lid. The purpose of this new funding would focus on integration, services, and support for host communities -- vital in shoring up systems for resilience before things boil over into crisis.

Maybe the better analogy now is a poorly-designed pressure cooker. There are a couple of ways to release steam, including improving conditions within Venezuela, expanding legal migration pathways, and a massive investment in receiving countries' housing/labor markets to absorb any potential shocks. Hopefully this money does just that!