E.g., 06/07/2026
E.g., 06/07/2026

Middle East & North Africa: All Activity

Cover image for From Exile to Return
Reports
April 2026

The fall of Syria’s Assad regime has raised questions in high-income countries about when displaced Syrians will return home. Similar conversations are underway about the nearly 7 million displaced Ukrainians. This report examines the complexity of facilitating returns without imperiling reconstruction, fueling additional displacement, and uprooting well-integrated workers and members of host societies.

A farmer in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Significant shares of Syrians and Turks who have sought asylum in the European Union are of Kurdish background. How will migration be affected by the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and Turkey’s 2025 ceasefire with PKK militants? This article examines the history and context of migration dynamics involving the Kurds, and prospects for change.

A woman receives a cash transfer in Sierra Leone.

Some countries with large diasporas have sought to maximize incoming remittances and channel them into particular sectors. Diaspora engagement policies are not always successful, but research shows that they are generally accompanied by increased remittance sending. This article explains the connection and explores some of the factors affecting remittance levels.

Cover image for Reframing Return and Reintegration
Policy Briefs
October 2025

Many migrant-origin countries are developing policies and institutional structures to support their returning nationals, driven by safety concerns, emergencies, and in some cases pressure from destination countries. This policy brief examines these developments and identifies opportunities to better align local services, national policies, and donor support to strengthen international cooperation on migrant returns and reintegration.

Cover image for Consideraciones clave para futuros programas de protección temporal...
Reports
June 2025

Los países latinoamericanos han respondido a la migración de Venezuela y otros países con diversas medidas de protección temporal y regularización. A medida que los países desarrollan enfoques de segunda generación, es necesario equilibrar la flexibilidad y la coherencia. Este informe compara los elementos clave del diseño de las políticas de protección temporal y regularización dentro y fuera de la región, destacando lecciones para los responsables de las políticas públicas en América Latina.

Cover image for Key Considerations for Future Temporary Protection and Regularization Programs...
Reports
June 2025

Latin American countries have responded to migration from Venezuela and beyond with a range of temporary protection and regularization measures. Amid protracted displacement, countries need to develop second-generation approaches that balance flexibility and consistency. This report compares key design elements of protection and regularization policies in countries in and beyond the region, highlighting lessons.

Multimedia
Thursday, June 5, 2025

Labor shortages are increasingly driving some countries to look outside their borders for workers. Can labor mobility be managed in a way that benefits workers, employers, countries of origin, and countries of destination alike? This World of Migration episode focuses on India and the implications of large-scale emigration for its economic advancement.

People ride bicycles in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan.

As Syria enters a new era with the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, the question of return of millions of Syrians who sought refuge internationally looms large. In Jordan, which has been a key host for Syrian refugees, limited numbers of Syrians have chosen to return to date. Instead, what has quietly taken shape is a fragile form of long-term integration. This article examines Jordan's response to the protracted Syrian displacement over time and prospects for the future.

Dler returned from Germany to Iraq, and with IOM's help, he was able to rebuild his livelihood - a bicycle parts and repairing shop.
Multimedia
Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Speakers from organizations that support returning migrants in Iraq, Somalia, and other fragile environments explore challenges in designing and delivering reintegration support in these settings and the role that reintegration programming can play in helping returnees rebuild their lives.

Multimedia
Tuesday, April 8, 2025

This episode of the Changing Climate, Changing Migration podcast explores the connection between climate change, human mobility, and violence. We speak with journalist Peter Schwartzstein, author of the book The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence.

Three Syrian refugee women in Lebanon
Short Reads
December 2024
By  Samuel Davidoff-Gore and Susan Fratzke
The Dubai skyline.

As countries in the Gulf region rewrite their immigration rules to reflect changing economic futures, they have made reforms to their oft-criticized kafala sponsorship system. But not all migrants are set to benefit equally. This article provides an overview of the reforms and the growing inclusion gap between highly skilled professionals and low-skilled migrants.

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