The Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V), co-led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) requested on Friday USD 763 million to assist 1.2 million refugees and migrants in 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The funds are part of the 2026 Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP), which seeks to reinforce strategies for integration, protection, and access to essential services.
The document, developed with the participation of 152 organizations, reflects a changing migration landscape. While northbound flows are decreasing, several countries in the region are experiencing an increase in southbound movements, generating new humanitarian pressures.
According to the plan, 4.2 million refugees and migrants require immediate assistance in areas such as housing, food, water, and education.
The situation is especially serious for migrant children: one in four minors faces barriers to enrolling or staying in school, which threatens their long-term development.
Despite financial limitations, the platform managed to assist nearly 500,000 people this year through thousands of humanitarian interventions.
For José Samaniego, UNHCR’s Regional Director for the Americas, this result confirms the relevance of R4V as a coordinated regional response mechanism.
“The Platform supports and complements authorities, drives the response, and creates conditions for these populations to contribute to the communities that host them,” he said.
In a context of global reductions in humanitarian funding, the 2026 RMRP proposes a more agile, harmonized structure aligned with international standards. The approach prioritizes interventions in the most vulnerable communities and incorporates mechanisms to reduce duplication and improve coordination.
Maria Moita, IOM’s Regional Director, emphasized the importance of investing in integration and regularization processes. “When migrants and refugees can rebuild their lives safely, they are less likely to be displaced again. Together we can promote inclusion and create pathways to resilience and opportunity,” she explained.
The plan also emphasizes strengthening national and local government capacities, as well as supporting initiatives led directly by host communities. Its main objectives include ensuring access to essential services, reinforcing prevention and response to protection risks, and improving the socioeconomic resilience of migrants and refugees.
The UN and IOM reiterated that support from the international community —including the private sector— will be crucial to sustain humanitarian operations and advance toward long-term solutions that allow these populations to fully integrate into their new communities.
The R4V platform brings together 152 organizations, 22% of which are led by refugees and migrants. The countries included in the 2026 RMRP are: Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
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