UNITED Nations agencies are seeking $763 million to assist 1.2 million refugees and migrants across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2026, as migration patterns in the region undergo significant shifts.
The Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants, jointly led by the International Organisation for Migration and UNHCR, launched the appeal on Tuesday as part of its 2026 Refugee and Migrant Response Plan covering 17 countries.
The funding request comes as the region experiences a reversal in traditional migration flows, with northward movements declining while southbound migration increases. Overall, 4.2 million migrants and refugees of various nationalities need immediate help with integration, protection and access to basic services, including housing, food, water and education.
Education remains a critical concern, with nearly one in four children facing barriers to school enrollment and retention that threaten their future development.
“Despite limited funding this year, the R4V platform reached nearly 500,000 people through thousands of activities,” said Jose Samaniego, UNHCR’s Regional Director for the Americas.
The plan brings together 152 organisations—three-quarters of them civil society groups—to coordinate assistance across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curaçao.
Maria Moita, IOM’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasised the plan’s focus on helping migrants and refugees establish stable lives. “When migrants and refugees rebuild their lives safely, they are less likely to move again,” she said.
The initiative prioritises three objectives: ensuring safe access to essential services, addressing protection risks, and promoting economic integration of refugees and migrants into host communities.
Humanitarian funding globally has declined in recent years, prompting organisers to streamline the response plan to reduce duplication and maximise impact in the most vulnerable communities.
