IOM Releases 2023 Return and Reintegration Key Highlights

Othmane returned from Tunisia to Morocco with the help of IOM in the framework of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration. © IOM 2022

Over 71,000 migrants benefited from a rights-based, safe and dignified voluntary return and more than 126,000 reintegration-related services were provided, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2023 Return and Reintegration Key Highlights, released today.

The report presents an overview of the Organization’s core initiatives to assist migrants in returning voluntarily to their countries when they are unwilling or unable to stay in their host countries. This report simultaneously provides trends and figures on the number of migrants supported by IOM in both returning to and reintegrating into their communities, while indicating the leading host/transit countries and countries of origin over the past year.

“This year's report highlights IOM's operational capacities to increase assistance, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to a robust protection-centered, rights-based approach throughout the entire return, and reintegration continuum,” said Yitna Getachew, Director of IOM’s Protection Division (a.i).

A total of 56,045 migrants were supported through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programmes, while an additional 15,906 individuals were reached by the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programmes, amidst ongoing humanitarian crises in countries such as Libya and Yemen.

Assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations also increased by 9 per cent in 2023, which reflects the continued efforts of IOM and its partners, both governmental and non-governmental, to implement specialized and integrated protection programming and to reduce vulnerability while enhancing resilience and empowering migrants.

Middle East and North Africa remained the main host region, accounting for 35 per cent of the total number of returns, while Niger was the main host country with 13,039 migrants reached with return services showing again an increase in the number of returns from transit countries outside Europe.

Guided by IOM’s Integrated Approach to Reintegration, country offices around the world have supported the sustainable reintegration of migrants. This has been achieved through reintegration counselling (either before departure or upon arrival) and providing economic, social, and psychosocial assistance at individual, community, and structural levels.

In 2023, 131 IOM offices were involved in providing reintegration-related services before departing from the host country or after arrival in the country of origin. The top three countries providing pre-departure reintegration assistance were Germany (19%), Belgium (15%) and Switzerland (14%). On the other hand, Mali (27%), Guatemala (10%) and Guinea (9%) were the top three countries offering post-arrival support.

“The report not only offers insights into return and reintegration trends, but also highlights key initiatives developed by IOM and its partners to inform a rights-based approach to return and reintegration,” Getachew added.

The main host and origin countries in 2023 are presented in the chart below: