In 2021 alone, an estimated 235 million people needed humanitarian assistance and protection, an increase of 40% from the previous year, according to IOM Egypt’s Chief of Mission Laurent de Boeck.
De Boeck’s comments came in a panel discussion that was held on Thursday during the World Youth Forum titled ‘The Role of International Institutions in the Post-Pandemic Recovery.’
The chief of mission said that IOM Egypt is aware of the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on countries and their population, as it threatens to put 70 million people in extreme poverty.
De Boeck noted that when the world was closing, IOM developed all means to guarantee permanent contact with the most vulnerable migrants, providing them with socio-economic, health, and mental health support during all the phases of their migration cycle. This approach has become the new normal of the IOM worldwide, with a specific approach to higher vulnerabilities and excellent cooperation with countries.
Furthermore, he thanked the Egyptian government for its role in providing support and access to social-net assistance and healthcare, including vaccination, to migrants, adding that the IOM is keen to pursue this approach with governments worldwide.
