Cairo, 9 April - IOM's Regional Director for MENA, Othman Belbeisi today pledged support for the Khartoum Process, at a Ministerial Conference in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

The Process is a vital framework dedicated to ensuring that migration from the Horn of Africa to Europe is managed in a safe, orderly, and regular manner, Mr Belbeisi told the audience of ministers and officials from across the region and beyond.

He added that “Migration is an intrinsic part of our global society,” noted Mr Belbeisi. “When well-managed, it yields substantial benefits—not only for migrants but also for their countries of origin and destination.”

However, he warned that we are witnessing a troubling situation for migrants along the route from East Africa to Europe and beyond.

Saving lives during migration crises, as well as providing durable solutions for internally displaced persons are integral to IOM’s mission, he said, noting that people are compelled to take desperate and dangerous journeys, exacerbated by the activities of human traffickers and smugglers who exploit their vulnerabilities.

“Thousands of migrants are being exposed to violence, exploitation, and severe human rights abuses. These experiences underline the critical need for us to establish adequate and accessible regular pathways and improve border management. Only then can we ensure that our migration systems are safer, fairer, and more efficient for all,” he added.

 Mr Belbeisi commended the Egyptian Chairmanship of the Khartoum Process for its steadfast leadership, particularly in prioritizing the creation of legal pathways and combatting trafficking and smuggling.

“Our ongoing presence along migration routes, coupled with our role as coordinator of the UN Network on Migration, embodies our commitment to a comprehensive approach in implementing inter-regional as well as global frameworks such as the Global Compact for Migration,” he said.

“Furthermore, IOM plays a crucial role in data collection and analysis, which informs labor migration policies and border management strategies, contributing to effective crisis response and the protection of vulnerable populations.”

For more information please contact:

Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int