IOM first launched operations in South Asia in October 1990 with the assisted return to the region of 165,000 migrant workers stranded by the first Gulf War. The Dhaka Office was given regional functions in 1998 to serve Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Of these countries, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are now IOM Member States, while Bhutan, India and Nepal are Observer States.

IOM’s presence in the region is as follows:

• Bangladesh became a member of IOM on 27 November 1990, a direct consequence of IOM assistance to Bangladeshis during the Persian Gulf crisis when IOM repatriated about 63,000 migrant workers to Bangladesh. Subsequently, in February 1998, IOM and the Government of Bangladesh signed a Cooperation Agreement leading to the creation of the IOM regional office.
• Sri Lanka also became a member state of IOM in 1990, following the safe return of approximately 90,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers stranded in the Middle East as a result of the first the Gulf War. Throughout the 1990’s IOM continued to work in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka to develop and implement a number of capacity building projects for migrant workers. This cooperation paved the way for the establishment of an IOM office in Sri Lanka in May 2002. Since December 2005, IOM has played an important role in post-tsunami response and reconstruction in the country.
• IOM began its operations in India following the Gujarat earthquake in January 2001. It established an office in Ahmedabad in March 2001 to implement a relief and shelter programme for earthquake-affected migrant salt workers. An office in Hyderabad was opened in 2003 to implement a project for the economic rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking.
• IOM opened its office in Nepal in September 2006. Nepal’s membership was initiated during the 92nd Council Meeting held in November of 2006. The mission is already implementing regional projects as well as assisting in AVR operations. Work is in process for developing projects focusing on labour migration, counter trafficking, internally displaced persons etc