IOM, UNHCR and partners seek $763m to support migrants and refugees in Latin America and the Caribbean

GENEVA/PANAMA CITY – The Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V), co-led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is appealing for $763 million to support 1.2 million refugees and migrants across 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is part of the 2026 Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) for the region, which aims to boost integration and protection of migrants and refugees.

The plan, which brings together 152 organizations, reflects the new context of migration and displacement in the region, with northward movements declining and southbound movements increasing across several countries.

Amid these shifting dynamics, the plan notes that 4.2 million migrants and refugees of different nationalities require immediate assistance in integration, protection and access to essential services such as housing, food, water and education. Nearly one in four children face education-related challenges, with barriers to enrolment and retention in schools threatening their long-term development.

“Despite limited funding this year, the R4V platform reached nearly 500,000 people through thousands of activities,” said Jose Samaniego, UNHCR Regional Director for the Americas. “This confirms R4V’s importance as the leading coordination and response mechanism for mixed movements of refugees and migrants in the region. It supports and complements authorities in driving and sustaining the response, and creates conditions for these populations to contribute to the communities and countries that host them.”

As humanitarian funding continues to decline, the new streamlined structure of the RMRP focuses on optimizing the humanitarian response in the most vulnerable communities. In line with global reform efforts, the 2026 RMRP introduces a simplified and more harmonized structure that reduces duplication, streamlines coordination and aligns regional efforts with global standards.

“Tackling the challenges ahead demands more than goodwill; it requires strategic planning and lasting investment,” said Maria Moita, IOM Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “This plan places strong emphasis on regularization and integration processes, recognizing that when migrants and refugees rebuild their lives safely, they are less likely to move again. Together, we can foster inclusion and create pathways to resilience and opportunity.”

It also prioritizes activities that build on and scale the interventions of national and local authorities, as well as locally driven responses, ensuring high impact in advancing the integration and inclusion of migrants and refugees across the region.

The core objectives of the RMRP include improving safe and dignified access to essential goods and critical services; enhancing prevention, mitigation, and response to protection risks; and increasing resilience and socio-economic integration of refugees, migrants and the communities hosting them.

The support of the international community, including the private sector, is vital for delivering life-saving humanitarian aid and for driving long-term solutions that help refugees and migrants rebuild their lives, integrate into host communities, and unlock their full potential.

Access the full report here.

Note to editors:

Co-led by UNHCR and IOM, the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V) brings together 152 partner organizations, 22% of which are led by refugees and migrants. Nearly three-quarters of the platform's members are civil society organizations (including national and international NGOs), strengthening an integrated and coordinated response beyond the UN system. The 17 countries covered by the RMRP 2026 are: Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominican. Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.

For more information, please contact: 

In Panama

• Jorge Gallo, IOM, [email protected] 

• Melanie Gallant, UNHCR, [email protected]

In Geneva

• Kennedy Omondi Okoth, IOM, [email protected]

• Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR, [email protected]