World News Briefs: Refugees in South Sudan, fraud centers in the Philippines, new migration patterns in Latin America

From the start of 2026, according to the UN migration agency, IOMIn 2017, more than 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes, and repeated displacement made it increasingly difficult for families to recover.

“We and our humanitarian partners are prioritizing helping people in the worst affected areas” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, at a regular midday briefing.

World Food Program (WFP) and its partners have distributed food to more than 300,000 people in the Ayod, Duk, Nyirol and Uror regions of Jonglei state since the start of this year.

He added that “UNICEF and other partners working in nutrition have returned to delivering life-saving supplies in remote locations.” Thousands of cartons of high-energy biscuits and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods have been delivered.

Call for Donations

Meanwhile, efforts are also being made to prepare food, health and nutrition supplies ahead of the rainy season, which runs from April to October and often cuts off access to communities.

Nearly 10 million people – more than three-quarters of the population – will need humanitarian assistance by 2026. $1.5 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans for this year so far we have received $351 million, or less than a quarter of the amount we need.

Dujarric encouraged everyone to donate, and stressed that “without an urgent and sustainable response, many communities face increasing risks of life-threatening food insecurity in South Sudan.”

How the Philippines is cracking down on online fraud hubs, with UN support

The Philippines continues its efforts to shut down online fraud centers, with the help of the United Nations. To date, Philippine authorities have released about 6,000 people from these centers, including more than 3,000 foreign nationals.

The UN’s role, through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, is to draw up new operating procedures that came into effect this week.

One important change that has occurred is the shift towards a victim-centered response, which aims to close the gaps that once made prosecution difficult, while ensuring that victims are treated as survivors of human trafficking and not as perpetrators of crimes.

Fraudulent compounds spread

“This shows that when governments are willing to eradicate centers of fraud and corruption, the UN can provide effective assistance and deliver results together,” said Miklos Gaspar, Director of the UN Information Center in Indonesia:

Mr. Gaspar explained that fraudulent compounds have spread across Southeast Asia, luring people with fake job offers. Often they are trapped and forced to commit online fraud.

Such operations are usually part of wider global criminal enterprises and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has warned that organized fraud networks are increasingly sophisticated, using advanced technology and targeting victims around the world, making billions in illegal profits.

Mass migration is expected to occur in Latin America and the Caribbean

Violence linked to organized crime, economic changes, changing migration policies, increasing returns and deportations – as well as the increasing impact of climate-related hazards – will change migration patterns in Latin America and the Caribbean.

As migration between regions becomes increasingly complex and rapidly changing, movements are no longer driven by traditional patterns, but are now becoming more diverse, multidirectional and dynamic. new report from the UN migration agency, IOM, revealed on Thursday.

New routes are emerging, increasing pressure on border areas and urban centers.

Currently, nearly 80 million international migrants live in Latin America. In 2024 alone, 14.5 million internal refugees will be recorded, mainly due to disasters, while displacement due to conflict and violence will reach almost 1.5 million people.

Preparing for the future

“It’s not about predicting the future, but about preparing for different possible scenarios,” said Ana Durán Salvatierra, IOM’s top official in the region.

“Migration will continue to grow. The key question is whether we react too late or prepare in advance.”

Intra-regional migration remains a feature, including continued movements from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, with approximately 6.9 million Venezuelans living in Latin America and the Caribbean, primarily in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador.

Rather than predicting a definitive outcome, the IOM report develops plausible scenarios and highlights practical implications for planning, coordination, and resource allocation, helping us take action that goes beyond a reactive response.