IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people
With a presence since 1991, IOM has been actively working in Türkiye for over three decades. In 2004, Türkiye became a full-fledged member state of IOM, formalizing the partnership between the organization and the Republic of Türkiye.
With its strategic location bridging Europe and Asia, Türkiye has historically been a significant country of origin, transit and destination for migrants. Currently, Türkiye hosts one of the largest migrant populations globally. According to the latest available figures from the Turkish Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), there are more than 4.9 million foreign nationals present in Turkish territory, 3.7 million of whom are seeking international protection.
As the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, IOM is committed to supporting the Turkish Government to promote safe, orderly and regular migration. IOM has supported the Turkish Government to develop policies aimed at ensuring effective, human rights-based migration governance.
Initially focusing on resettlement for Iraqi refugees in the 1990s, IOM's scope of work expanded over time – working closely with the Turkish Government to manage the long-term impacts of migration and leverage the opportunities it brings for sustainable development. IOM’s programmes focus on protecting migrants and promoting resilience, improving their health and wellbeing, advancing sustainable livelihoods and labour mobility, fostering integration and social inclusion of migrants, strengthening effective management of borders, and conducting research and data collection to inform policymaking. IOM has continued to support the resettlement of refugees to third countries through movement operations, health assessment and cultural orientation.
Moreover, IOM plays a leading role in emergency response, particularly after the 2011 earthquake in Van and the start of the Syrian crisis in 2012. IOM began delivering life-saving cross-border humanitarian assistance to Northwest Syria in 2014. Most recently, IOM has mobilized its resources to support response and recovery efforts following the February 2023 earthquakes.
Today, IOM Türkiye is one of IOM’s largest missions worldwide, with over 800 staff and 400 non-staff contract holders across the country as of August 2023. The organization operates in various locations nationwide, with its main office in Ankara and sub/field offices in Adana, Adiyaman, Edirne, Gaziantep, Hatay, İstanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Mersin and Şanlıurfa.
