Through generous fund from Kuwait, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has recently completed two projects in Afghanistan and Ukraine and has made significant strides in enhancing the lives of vulnerable populations.

The project in Ukraine improved municipal sanitation services, through upgrades to the sewage systems that serve 120,000 people, it has also improved access to safe water from the municipal network for 1,500 households (4,500 people) by replacing one kilometre of old asbestos-cement water pipes with new polyethylene ones, applying technologies that consider safety regulations. Under this project, IOM procured and installed 1,275 electric water heaters (boilers) of 50 and 100 litre capacity and contributed to dignified living conditions for 2,235 people in social institutions, dormitories, health care facilities and schools.

In Afghanistan, the project established and improved community centers in informal settlements that serve as hubs for activities that promote education, healthcare, skill development, and social cohesion. IOM also established a Camp Coordination and Camp Management mobile team that worked with the entire community.  In response to the earthquake in Herat, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management mobile team also assisted 1,580 individuals by providing protection services. During the influx of returnees from Pakistan at the Torkham border, the mobile team provided awareness raising sessions on protection reaching 2,283 individuals.

Currently, the funding from Kuwait is supporting two additional projects as a response to the earthquake in Syria and Turkiye.

According to the recently launched IOM World Migration Report 2024, annual global figures show that approximately two thirds of the world´s displaced people are internally displaced persons (IDPs).  By the end of 2023, 75.9 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced.  68.3 million were displaced by conflict and violence and 7.7 million by disasters.

“Saving lives and protecting people on the move is one of the three objectives we are working on as per the IOM global strategy that was launched at the beginning of the year. For 2024, IOM globally is aiming to assist 41.2 million persons affected by crisis in 43 countries crisis including Sudan, Yemen, Somalia , Gaza,  Ethiopia and Afghanistan” said Mazen AboulHosn, IOM Kuwait Chief of Mission.