IMRF 2026 - Bridging Regions, Building Futures: Asia–Arab Youth Led Solutions on Climate Mobility

07 May 2026 — During the 2026 IMRF (International Migration Review Forum) side event, “Bridging Regions, Building Futures: Asia–Arab Youth-Led Solutions on Climate Mobility,” children and young people from Asia and the Arab regions issued a powerful call to action, asserting that their voices are essential in addressing the growing crisis of climate-related migration. The event, co-organised by UNICEF Centre of Excellence in Bangkok, World Vision, the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP), and the Pacific Youth Forum, showcased child-led research, art, and consultations highlighting the realities of displacement and resilience across both regions. Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader for World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe, said, “In fragile environments across Asia and the Middle East, climate shocks are rewriting the futures of an entire generation. We cannot manage migration effectively if we continue to speak about young people rather than with them. To build a future of dignity and safety, their inclusion in decision-making must be non-negotiable.” According to UNICEF, nearly 1 billion children globally or nearly half of the world's child population, are at extremely high risk from climate impacts, with particularly high exposure in regions such as the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Over 43 million children were displaced in a recent six-year period due to weather-related disasters, equivalent to approximately 20,000 children being forced from their homes every single day.