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Prepare now for future migration surge, says IOM

In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, thousands of internally displaced people walk along the main road from Rumang’abo to Goma, fleeing the Kibumba region where fighting is ongoing WorldVision
Decisions taken by local authorities on land use, building regulations and access to health services probably affect migrants more than decisions taken nationally, “yet in most countries, migration policy is set at the national level with little attention to capacity-building at the local level, where policy is usually implemented,” says the new World Migration Report 2010

The report, published every two years by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), highlights several such gaps, and explores the extent to which countries are prepared for a surge in migration over the coming decades. The current number of 214 million migrants globally, according to IOM, could rise to 405 million by 2050.

It says new trends in migration could be affected by varying rates of population growth (slowing in the developed world and prompting an even greater demand for labour); environmental change; and shifts in the global economy.

The current “lull” in international migration due to economic recession, IOM says, should be used by countries to prepare for larger flows of people: capacity-building and better managed databases could be areas to look at. The report provides a self-evaluation checklist to help countries and organizations assess their preparedness levels.

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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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