Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has announced a new partnership with the LALIGA FOUNDATION to help migrant youth in Peru integrate into society through soccer and leadership training. This initiative was launched during the first official visit of IOM Director General Amy Pope to the country, highlighting the importance of using sports as a tool for social inclusion and community building. During her visit, Pope emphasized that migrant integration is not just about humanitarian aid but also about creating stronger societies. She noted that sports, especially soccer, can bring people together and help young migrants and Peruvians connect, learn…

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has firmly opposed the idea of taking loans from international financial institutions to handle the ongoing migrant crisis. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, where European leaders gathered to discuss migration challenges, Borissov criticized the European Commission’s proposal that includes financial aid for providing shelter to asylum seekers. Borissov expressed concerns that such borrowing would increase Bulgaria’s debt and deficit, potentially leading to another financial crisis within a year. He emphasized the importance of maintaining fiscal discipline and adhering to the Maastricht criteria, which set strict economic standards for EU member states. Bulgaria’s stance…

Migrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, and China deported from the United States have been left stranded in Panama, desperately seeking asylum in any country that will take them. Without legal support or clear options, they fear being forgotten. In February, nearly 300 migrants were deported to Panama as part of a U.S. effort to accelerate removals to countries that were harder to deport people to directly. Some returned to their home countries, but others, fearing persecution, were sent to a remote camp in the Darién jungle for weeks. Earlier this month, Panama released those who remained, giving them a month…

Every evening during Ramadan, undocumented migrants in Madrid’s Lavapiés neighborhood gather to break their fast together, finding solace in a shared meal and companionship. Baye Serigne, a 23-year-old Senegalese migrant, travels over an hour from his shelter to join the gathering, where free iftar meals are distributed. The initiative, started in 2018 by a group of Senegalese volunteers, now serves over 400 people on some nights. For many migrants struggling with poverty and lack of legal status, the meal offers more than just food—it provides a sense of belonging and a space to share experiences. Assana, another young Senegalese migrant,…

A Pakistani migrant worker, Muhammad Arshad, has died while working on a stadium being built for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred on March 12 at the Aramco Stadium construction site in Al Khobar, marking the first reported death of a migrant worker linked to the tournament. Arshad, who was employed as a foreman, fell from an upper level when the platform he was working on tilted. Although he had a personal fall-arrest system, he was not connected to an anchor point at the time, according to the Belgian construction company Besix Group, whose subsidiary Six…

New data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that 2024 was the deadliest year on record for migrants, with at least 8,938 deaths reported worldwide. This marks a tragic increase from 2023, when 8,747 migrant deaths were recorded, continuing a five-year trend of rising fatalities on migration routes. The IOM emphasized the urgent need for global action to prevent these avoidable losses. IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, Ugochi Daniels, described the growing number of migrant deaths as both “unacceptable and preventable.” She stressed that behind each statistic is a human life, leaving families devastated. Daniels called…

A migrant has died while trying to cross the English Channel in an overcrowded boat, just one day after another person lost their life attempting the dangerous journey. The tragic incident happened in the early hours of Thursday when a boat carrying around 40 people picked up more migrants along the coast of Gravelines, northern France. The overcrowding made the journey even more risky, and authorities had to intervene. The French coastguard reported that 15 people were rescued from the boat. Three of them were pulled from the water, while 12 others on board the dinghy requested to be evacuated.…

A tragic shipwreck off Cape Greco has reignited concerns over Cyprus’ handling of migration, as at least seven migrants lost their lives. The incident has drawn criticism from NGOs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which accuses Cypriot authorities of forcibly returning migrants to Syria. However, the Cypriot government has denied the allegations, insisting that it has acted within the law. The UNHCR released a statement claiming that on March 14, Cypriot authorities intercepted three boats carrying around 80 Syrian migrants and forced them back. The agency condemned these alleged pushbacks, stating that they violate international law…

The Trump administration is considering a controversial move to expand military involvement at the U.S.-Mexico border, evaluating plans for the Pentagon to take control of a buffer zone where active-duty troops could temporarily detain migrants who cross illegally. According to five U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, the plan has been under review for weeks and primarily focuses on a section of the border in New Mexico. If implemented, the buffer zone would function as a military-controlled area, allowing the Department of Defense to allocate its budget toward border enforcement efforts. This could significantly enhance the administration’s immigration crackdown while…

Libyan authorities have deported a group of Nigerian migrants as part of their continued efforts to curb illegal migration. The Anti-Illegal Migration Agency confirmed the deportation on Tuesday, stating that the individuals were removed from Libyan territory after completing legal procedures. The deportation took place at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, though the agency did not disclose the exact number of those sent back. Officials emphasized that deportation efforts remain ongoing as Libya enforces its immigration regulations. This latest move highlights Libya’s strict stance on irregular migration, with many migrants facing detention and deportation in their attempt to use the…