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Cuts to development aid by wealthy nations are directly linked to increased displacement, according to Amy Pope, head of the UN's International Organization for Migration. In an interview with AFP, Pope stated that reduced assistance makes it far more likely for people to seek safety and stability elsewhere.

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When we see cuts in development assistance, we're actually just making the likelihood that people will have to leave in search of safety, in search of stability, so much higher.

She pointed to Sudan, currently facing the world's largest displacement crisis due to war, as an example. As humanitarian support decreases, more Sudanese are compelled to look for safety and opportunities abroad. Pope noted that several Western countries, including the United States and European nations, have recently cut their development aid budgets while simultaneously tightening migration policies and border controls.

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We've seen it in places like Sudan, which is the world's largest displacement crisis as a result of the war there.

Speaking at the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum, Pope suggested that many countries make short-term decisions driven by domestic political pressures, which may not serve their long-term interests. She advocated for connecting aid with humane and dignified migration pathways that empower individuals. Pope also highlighted the significant impact of climate change on global migration, citing rising sea levels threatening Pacific island states and storms displacing millions in the Philippines, alongside prolonged droughts in Africa.

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In order to respond to domestic political pressures, many countries are making short-term decisions that may not ultimately serve (them) in the long term.

"What are they willing to invest now to ensure more stability, more options, less likely occurrence of unplanned migration in the future?" Pope questioned, urging immediate investments rather than waiting for emergencies. She also clarified that most displacement occurs internally, not across borders, with over 700 million internal migrants globally compared to 304 million international migrants.

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The more we can connect assistance to the movement of people in ways that are humane and dignified, ways that give people agency and opportunity, the less likely we're going to see large patterns of movement.