UN warns of new refugee wave from Middle East amid escalating conflict

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), part of the United Nations, has issued a warning about a potential new wave of migration from Middle Eastern countries as regional tensions escalate.

Amy Pope, Director General of IOM noted that European Union authorities are preparing for a possible surge in refugee arrivals, Financial Times reports.

Pope highlighted that the ongoing conflict and the risk of its prolonged escalation could spark a migration crisis comparable to 2015–2016, when more than one million people—primarily from Syria and Afghanistan—sought refuge in the EU.

She emphasized that EU governments are aiming to adopt a more comprehensive approach early in the crisis to prevent the situation from developing into a full-scale conflict, especially given rising anti-immigrant sentiment in several European countries.

Pope said that the goal was to act preemptively to manage migration flows and protect both refugees and host communities, underscoring the need for coordinated planning and early interventions.

By Vafa Guliyeva