The year 2024 stood as a sobering milestone in the history of human mobility. For the first time, the convergence of climate change and protracted conflict propelled displacement figures to record heights, challenging existing legal frameworks and humanitarian responses.
A Record-Breaking Crisis
According to the IOM, 2024 saw a historic 45.8 million new displacements caused by disasters—nearly double the annual average of the past decade. By the end of the year, an unprecedented 83.4 million people were living in internal displacement globally.
Focal Point: The Mediterranean & Atlantic Routes
Migration routes in 2024 and 2025 have shown extreme volatility. While arrivals along some European routes saw a slight decline in early 2025 due to stricter border enforcement, the "Western African Atlantic Route" saw a troubled increase in migrant deaths and disappearances. Delegates must analyze how the criminalization of migration affects the safety of these vulnerable populations.
Current Affairs Tracking (2025)
Key areas of concern for IOM delegates in 2026 include:
- Climate Change Adaptation: The shift from viewing migration as a failure toward viewing "facilitated migration" as a legitimate climate adaptation strategy.
- Horn of Africa Volatility: Recurrent droughts and flash floods in early 2025 have displaced millions, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty and mobility.
- Mixed Migration Flows: The increasing difficulty in distinguishing between economic migrants and those fleeing life-threatening climate disasters or conflict.
Questions for Delegates
- Should the 1951 Refugee Convention be expanded to include "Climate Refugees," or is a new legal instrument required?
- How can host nations balance increasing domestic security concerns with their international humanitarian obligations toward displaced persons?
- What role can digital technologies and data analytics play in Predicting and mitigating mass displacement before it occurs?
