The Darien jungle, located on the border between Panama and Colombia, is a dangerous and humid passage for migrants and asylum seekers heading towards North America. While the natural environment poses challenges, the greatest threats come from traffickers and criminals exploiting vulnerable individuals. Thousands, including children and those with disabilities, undertake the perilous journey, with significant increases in migrant crossings reported in recent years – from 8,594 in 2020 to a record 520,085 in 2023. However, this number dramatically decreased to only 2,831 between January and March 2025. To address the human rights violations migrants face, the UN Human Rights, alongside Panama and Costa Rica's Ombudsman's Offices, developed a technical tool to gather data and respond effectively to these issues.

As the sun rises over the Maidimu internally displaced persons site, women and girls gather in a safe space shelter created for them. Among them is Tsige Mebrthatom, a mother of six who has faced immense hardship but finds strength in these weekly gatherings. Tsige fled her home in Kefta Humera after losing her husband during the conflict in Northern Ethiopia, traveling on foot for five days to reach the Endabaguna camp. Once a thriving merchant in Addis Ababa, her hopes for a fresh start were shattered by the outbreak of conflict in Tigray. Now living in Maidimu, Tsige is one of over 5,000 displaced individuals. Learning traditional crafts has helped Tsige reclaim her identity and serve as a source of strength and inspiration for her children.

Around the world, Ramadan is a time to come together as a family. It represents the warmth of home, sharing a good meal and enjoying a variety of food. But for millions of Syrians still displaced 14 years after the conflict began, this Ramadan comes with the heavy burden of poverty and hunger. Mixed feelings of hope and wariness pervade their war-torn nation as it embarks on its path to peace. Over 7 million people remain internally displaced, most of them women and children. For years, humanitarian aid has been their only lifeline. Yet, dwindling resources make access to even basic needs a daily struggle, let alone the joyful Iftars they remember. This is especially challenging for women-led households. 

Venezuelan doctors, overcoming significant challenges, contribute to Peru's healthcare system through a training program supported by IOM, fostering integration and collaboration.

Ulukbek and Gulkayir’s entrepreneurial journey in Kyrgyzstan represents hope and resilience, as they turn their savings from seasonal work in the UK into a children's store.

After 13 years in Jordan, 80-year-old Hassan Mohammad Alhassan, a Syrian refugee, boarded a bus in Amman, filled with hope for his long-awaited return to Syria, despite the challenges ahead.

Haiti, grappling with gang violence, economic collapse, and political instability, faces a severe humanitarian crisis, worsened by the influx of deported families and limited resources.

Families anxiously await much-needed aid distributions in the heat of Trinidad and Tobago. Maria, a 31-year-old mother of four, came to the island seeking a better future after leaving her Indigenous Warao community in Venezuela in 2019 due to food and medicine scarcity. Once an administrative assistant, Maria now hopes to find work as a housekeeper, aiming for a wage that surpasses her previous income. Living in a makeshift hut with seven other Venezuelan families, Maria feels the burden of her situation. “At least a day’s work allows us to eat and send money back home,” she explains. Over 36,000 Venezuelans have migrated to Trinidad and Tobago, often facing exploitation and discrimination.

International migrants make up 4.7% of the global labor force, playing a crucial role in economic growth, yet face challenges such as higher unemployment and gender disparities.

Although migrants often face significant challenges, they play a critical role in labour markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic issues in aging societies. Observed annually on 18 December, International Migrants Day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. On this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a future where migration is safe, orderly, and mutually beneficial. Together, step by step, we can build a better world for all. #EveryStep

Sahar, a 19-year-old Afghan woman, overcame abuse and homelessness after returning from Iran, determined to support her brothers and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.

Cesar’s family highlights the resilience of families who, despite facing exploitation and violence, cross borders daily in search of safety and a better future.

How is the recent mpox outbreak impacting refugees and displaced people in Africa? The surge in mpox cases has raised concerns about its potentially devastating impact on people living in crowded camps. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is currently working with partners to contain the outbreak. To gain more insight into the situation, UNHCR interviewed Dr. Allen Maina, Chief of Public Health at the UN Refugee Agency, to understand what mpox is and how it is affecting refugees and other displaced people.

Four Rohingya boys—Muhammed, Riyad, Ahmed, and Sultan—find solace in football and the support of shelter staff in Thailand as they prepare for resettlement in Canada, holding on to dreams of education and brighter futures.

In her role as a Protection staff member with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Latifa dedicates herself every day to supporting vulnerable communities in Yemen.