The Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for distressed migrants are a vital component of the IOM Niger Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism. This initiative arose in response to the escalating migrant flows and the grave peril faced by migrants in the Saharan Desert. To address this, IOM forged a partnership with the Niger Civil Protection General Directorate in 2016, solidified by a memorandum of understanding (MoU), to collaboratively conduct SAR missions in the northern Niger's Saharan Desert. Subsequently, in March 2017, an additional agreement was established between the partners, specifically aimed at aiding migrants along migratory routes. This encompassed extending humanitarian assistance to expellees and other migrants emerging from Algeria. The primary objective of the SAR operations on land is to diligently oversee migrant distress monitoring, communication, and coordination for search and rescue functions. This entails locating, accessing, stabilizing, and transporting or evacuating survivors. It also involves rendering initial medical aid and other necessary support such as water, food, and medical referrals through coordinated efforts with all stakeholders and available resources. The principal beneficiaries of these operations are distressed migrants who are either wounded or stranded in the desert. The central aim of SAR activities is to institute an organized and well-coordinated response for assisting migrants in distress within the Sahara Desert. Key activities encompass mapping relevant stakeholders and migratory routes, deploying teams promptly in response to SAR incidents, providing essential medical care and support, ensuring the safety of survivors in IOM transit centers, raising awareness about migration risks, and sharing insights with stakeholders. Alerts about stranded migrants are received from migrants themselves or local authorities, prompting IOM and Niger civil protection to initiate SAR efforts. Rescued migrants are relocated to IOM transit centers in Agadez, where they often require medical attention, sustenance, and psychosocial support due to their fragile physical and mental states. IOM staff also guide migrants about the possibilities of voluntary return and reintegration support. For effective SAR services across the Sahara Desert, key resources encompass a well-organized coordination team at national and local levels, adequately trained SAR personnel in IOM sub-offices, and a combination of public (local authorities, law enforcement, army) and private (local civil society organizations like the Niger Red Cross Society volunteers) resources. Enhanced coordination among stakeholders is pivotal for optimizing SAR efficacy.