Speaking on the sidelines of the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum on Thursday, Amy Pope, director general of the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM), warned that reductions in development aid by wealthy nations are exacerbating displacement from the world's most vulnerable regions. The warning comes as several European governments, alongside the United States, have slashed their foreign aid budgets while simultaneously tightening migration policies.
“When we see cuts in development assistance, we're actually just making the likelihood that people will have to leave in search of safety, in search of stability, so much higher,” Pope told AFP. She pointed to Sudan, where war has created the world's largest displacement crisis, as a stark example: “With decreasing support for humanitarian assistance, we then see more Sudanese look for safety, look for opportunity further afield.”
Germany, for instance, has reduced its development budget from nearly €14 billion in 2022 to just over €10 billion this year. The United States, under President Donald Trump, cut 83% of USAID programmes, which previously managed about 42% of global government humanitarian aid. Many European nations have followed similar paths, responding to domestic political pressures with what Pope described as “short-term decisions… that may not ultimately serve [them] in the long term.”
Climate Change as a Migration Driver
Pope emphasised that climate change is having an “enormous impact on migration around the world.” Rising sea levels threaten small Pacific island states like Tuvalu, while an estimated 10 million people have been displaced by storms in the Philippines. Across Africa, prolonged drought is uprooting communities. She called on the wealthiest countries—those most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions—to provide more support for people forced to leave their homes.
“What are they willing to invest now to ensure more stability, more options, less likely occurrence of unplanned migration in the future?” she asked. “Let's not wait for the emergency… Let's make the investments now.”
Pope’s remarks align with broader concerns about the interplay between climate and migration. A recent UNICEF report highlighted that nearly every child in Europe faces climate-driven health threats, underscoring the continent's vulnerability to environmental shifts.
Most Displacement Stays Within Borders
Contrary to narratives pushed by some political leaders, Pope noted that most displacement occurs within countries rather than across borders. By mid-2024, the IOM estimated 304 million international migrants and over 700 million internal migrants worldwide. “In the first instance, people will stay in their country. They will go somewhere in their country if they can find resources or safety. Then they move in the neighbouring countries,” she explained.
Providing support within the most affected countries, she argued, “actually is a lot less expensive… and will have a more stabilising effect.” She urged policymakers to focus on where aid can save the most lives, rather than on short-term border controls. The IOM chief’s call for long-term investment echoes similar appeals from other international leaders, such as IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva, who recently urged the EU to invest collectively to bolster growth.
Pope’s warning comes at a time when European nations are grappling with both migration pressures and climate adaptation. The weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), for example, threatens to disrupt Europe’s climate, potentially worsening conditions that drive migration. As the continent faces these interconnected challenges, the IOM’s message is clear: investing in development and climate resilience now is cheaper and more effective than managing crises later.
