An Iranian mother living in the Netherlands was able to embrace her two children—a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl—after years apart. Thanks to the Mileage Fund, IOM arranged their journey from Tehran to Amsterdam, ensuring a safe and seamless trip.
A recent example of the initiative’s impact is the story of this Iranian family. An IOM staff member in Iran accompanied the children throughout their journey, providing essential assistance and support.
Niek Gorree, an IOM colleague who welcomed the minors and facilitated their reunion with their mother, described the emotional day:
“The kids started to run faster as they saw her, and when the mom saw them, she really ran up to them, crying, saying their names loud and holding them like she never wanted to let go again.”
To be a part of this intimate moment makes me realize what a wonderful job I have!"
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For many migrants, reuniting with their families is a long-awaited dream, but financial and logistical challenges can make it difficult to achieve. IOM is committed to making these reunions possible through the organization's Resettlement & Movement Management Mileage Fund Mechanism (RMFM), which can acquire free airline tickets for migrants in need who are stranded, in vulnerable situations and in need of help to reunite with their families. This initiative is supported by the Air France / KLM group under their Bluebiz corporate programme, airline miles accumulated through IOM Missions worldwide, enabling families to reunite when financial constraints would otherwise make it impossible.
This initiative underscores the critical role of private sector partnerships such as the Mileage Fund in humanitarian efforts. For families torn apart by conflict, displacement, or economic hardship, financial barriers often make reunification impossible. By converting airline miles into travel opportunities, IOM gives migrants a chance to rebuild their lives together.
With continued support for the Mileage Fund, IOM remains committed to reuniting families and helping migrants navigate their journeys toward a better future.
IOM the Netherlands LMI/ Resettlement Unit/ IOM Headquarters/RMM Division
For family reunification assistance, please contact the IOM NL Family Reunification Team at +31 88 746 4444 or via email at
You can find more information about family reunification on this page: Family Reunification
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