Flow Monitoring Survey

DTM Flow Monitoring, conducted by IOM Afghanistan, is designed to provide insights into the mobility patterns at Afghanistan’s border points with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This activity involves two interlinked exercises: Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC), which monitors the number of movements across the border, and Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS), which collect data on the profiles of randomly selected Afghan nationals crossing the border including documentation held, reasons for travel, and the intended period of stay/ travel. It is important to note that DTM collects information on total movements at a given border point, not the number of unique individuals entering or leaving the country. As a result, if one individual both left and re-entered Afghanistan during the reporting period, this would count as one outflow movement and one inflow movement. Movements can be attributed to a wide variety of reasons, including returnees coming back to Afghanistan after living abroad, people visiting family, deportees, those travelling for economic reasons, medical patients, students, or Afghans moving abroad for different reasons. Circular movements, which include those who frequently and regularly travel back and forth across the border for trade and other reasons, are also common. This monitoring offers a clear picture of population movements in and out of the country. 

DTM FM is operational at four main crossing points (connected to Afghanistan’s National Highway) as well as six other crossing points with Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This weekly snapshot combines information from the FM activity and various IOM sources related to cross-border movement. For a detailed explanation of the methodology used in gathering this data, the report directs readers to the section titled “IOM INFLOW DATA” on the last page.
 

Over the past several decades, frequent movements across the borders with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan characterized much of Afghanistan’s cross-border mobility dynamics. Afghan nationals cross back and forth across these borders for a variety of reasons, including to pursue economic opportunities, to seek safety, to access healthcare, or to visit family members, in addition to other short-term travel. As of September 2024, there were an estimated 3.75 million Afghan nationals living in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and approximately 2.05 million living in Pakistan1. 

In October 2023, officials in both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan called for the expulsion of undocumented foreign nationals. Since the majority of undocumented foreign nationals in both countries are Afghan nationals, the policies triggered increased return movements between October and December 2023. In April 2024, several media outlets in Pakistan announced a second phase of the “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP)”, which reportedly established a deadline for unregistered or undocumented foreigners to voluntarily return to their countries or face deportation. The government of Pakistan did not initially implement the deportation measures announced during this second phase. However, the government subsequently announced policies to implement deportations in June 2024. Additionally, Iranian officials have recently announced plans to deport two million Afghan nationals by early 2025. 

To monitor increased deportations and other forms of cross-border movement, IOM-DTM Afghanistan implemented DTM Flow Monitoring (FM) methodology to track cross-border movements, including volume, intended destinations, reasons for movement, and intended lengths of stay. This report includes data analysis on cross-border movement across the borders between Afghanistan and both Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran from 01 July 2024 to 30 September 20242. 

DTM monitored 973,696 individuals entering Afghanistan, 786,769 leaving Afghanistan, and interviewed over 90,912 individuals on their reasons for movement between July and September 2024. Data was collected from 11 different crossing points at the borders with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. All assessed border points fall into two categories: those connected to the National Highway, or “main” crossing points, which include Islam Qala, Milak, Spin Boldak, and Torkham, and those not connected to the National Highway, which include Abu Nasr Farahi, Dak, Baramcha, Angor Ada, Ghulam Khan, Nazar Posta and Pathan. Analyses throughout the report will reflect the differences between these types of crossing points.

The following section outlines the two main methodological components: Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC) and Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS). The report is structured in three main sections: 1) Cumulative Flow Trends, which summarizes all recorded cross-border movements, 2) Mobility Dynamics: The Islamic Republic of Iran; and 3) Mobility Dynamics: Pakistan. The second and third sections includes analyses of cross-border movements entering and exiting Afghanistan, as well as an overview of reasons for movement, travel documentation, and intended destinations. The report concludes by briefly comparing the cross-border dynamics into and from Afghanistan from both countries. 
 

DTM Flow Monitoring, conducted by IOM Afghanistan, is designed to provide insights into the mobility patterns at Afghanistan’s border points with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This activity involves two interlinked exercises: Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC), which monitors the number of movements across the border, and Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS), which collect data on the profiles of randomly selected Afghan nationals crossing the border including documentation held, reasons for travel, and the intended period of stay/ travel. It is important to note that DTM collects information on total movements at a given border point, not the number of unique individuals entering or leaving the country. As a result, if one individual both left and re-entered Afghanistan during the reporting period, this would count as one outflow movement and one inflow movement. Movements can be attributed to a wide variety of reasons, including returnees coming back to Afghanistan after living abroad, people visiting family, deportees, those travelling for economic reasons, medical patients, students, or Afghans moving abroad for different reasons. Circular movements, which include those who frequently and regularly travel back and forth across the border for trade and other reasons, are also common. This monitoring offers a clear picture of population movements in and out of the country. 

DTM FM is operational at four main crossing points (connected to Afghanistan’s National Highway) as well as six other crossing points with Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This weekly snapshot combines information from the FM activity and various IOM sources related to cross-border movement. For a detailed explanation of the methodology used in gathering this data, the report directs readers to the section titled “IOM INFLOW DATA” on the last page.

DTM Flow Monitoring, conducted by IOM Afghanistan, is designed to provide insights into the mobility patterns at Afghanistan’s border points with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This activity involves two interlinked exercises: Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC), which monitors the number of movements across the border, and Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS), which collect data on the profiles of randomly selected Afghan nationals crossing the border including documentation held, reasons for travel, and the intended period of stay/ travel. It is important to note that DTM collects information on total movements at a given border point, not the number of unique individuals entering or leaving the country. As a result, if one individual both left and re-entered Afghanistan during the reporting period, this would count as one outflow movement and one inflow movement. Movements can be attributed to a wide variety of reasons, including returnees coming back to Afghanistan after living abroad, people visiting family, deportees, those travelling for economic reasons, medical patients, students, or Afghans moving abroad for different reasons. Circular movements, which include those who frequently and regularly travel back and forth across the border for trade and other reasons, are also common. This monitoring offers a clear picture of population movements in and out of the country. 

DTM FM is operational at four main crossing points (connected to Afghanistan’s National Highway) as well as six other crossing points with Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This weekly snapshot combines information from the FM activity and various IOM sources related to cross-border movement. For a detailed explanation of the methodology used in gathering this data, the report directs readers to the section titled “IOM INFLOW DATA” on the last page.
 

DTM Flow Monitoring, conducted by IOM Afghanistan, is designed to provide insights into the mobility patterns at Afghanistan’s border points with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This activity involves two interlinked exercises: Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC), which monitors the number of movements across the border, and Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS), which collect data on the profiles of randomly selected Afghan nationals crossing the border including documentation held, reasons for travel, and the intended period of stay/ travel. It is important to note that DTM collects information on total movements at a given border point, not the number of unique individuals entering or leaving the country. As a result, if one individual both left and re-entered Afghanistan during the reporting period, this would count as one outflow movement and one inflow movement. Movements can be attributed to a wide variety of reasons, including returnees coming back to Afghanistan after living abroad, people visiting family, deportees, those travelling for economic reasons, medical patients, students, or Afghans moving abroad for different reasons. Circular movements, which include those who frequently and regularly travel back and forth across the border for trade and other reasons, are also common. This monitoring offers a clear picture of population movements in and out of the country. 

DTM FM is operational at four main crossing points (connected to Afghanistan’s National Highway) as well as six other crossing points with Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. This weekly snapshot combines information from the FM activity and various IOM sources related to cross-border movement. For a detailed explanation of the methodology used in gathering this data, the report directs readers to the section titled “IOM INFLOW DATA” on the last page.

This report, based on a questionnaire administered through KoBo, provides insights into the profiles, experiences, needs, routes travelled and intentions of migrants transiting through Montenegro. Data was collected from 1 July to 30 September 2024. IOM surveyed 245 migrants at the Reception Center Božaj, and active transit locations such as bus stops or at key entry and exit locations (Rožaje and Pljevlja) throughout the country.

Кайтып келген эмгек мигранттары менен болгон сурамжылоо Кыргызстандагы ЭАМУнун МКМ системасын колдонуу менен өткөрүлдү. Бул изилдөө үчүн жер которгондорду көзөмөлдөө матрицасынын (ЖКМ) ыкмалары ишке ашырылган. Сурамжылоонун жерлери ЭАМУнун кайтып келген эмгек мигранттары боюнча Мобилдүүлүк Боюнча Баштапкы Баалоо жыйынтыгынын негизинде тандалган. Сурамжылоо анкетасы ЭАМУнун Борбордук Азиядагы ушуга окшош изилдөөлөрүнүн негизинде жана ички жана тышкы тематикалык эксперттер менен кеңешүү менен иштелип чыккан. Анкета социалдык-экономикалык профиль, миграциялык тажрыйба, ишке орношуу, акча которуулар, муктаждыктар жана аялуу жактар боюнча суроолорду камтыган.  

Жети облус жана эки шаарда жүргүзүлгөн сурамжылоонун үчүнчү айлампасында 1734 кайтып келген эмгек мигранты сурамжыланган. Негизги жыйынтыктар алардын жагдайларына олуттуу түшүнүктөрдү ачып берет. Кайтып келген эмгек мигранттарынын басымдуу бөлүгү, 79 пайызы Россия Федерациясынан келгендер. Андан тышкары, респонденттердин 41 пайызы толук орто билимге ээ болгонун айтышса, респонденттердин 37 пайызы өздөрүн үй-бүлөнүн негизги багуучусу деп эсептешкен. Анын үстүнө, көрүнүктүү бөлүгү, 90 пайызы, алар өздөрүнүн же ата- энесинин үйүндө жашаарын айтышкан. Кайтып келген мигранттардын басымдуу бөлүгү, 23 пайызы мурда курулуш тармагында иштешкен. Кошумчалай кетсек, кайтып келген эмгек мигранттарынын 30 пайызы кайра миграция боюнча эч кандай планы жок Кыргызстанда биротоло калууну каалаарын билдиришкен. 

MКM Кыргызстанда калктын мобилдүүлүгүн көзөмөлдөө, мигранттардын болжолдуу саны боюнча маалымат берүү, эмгек мигранттарынын жана кайтып келген мигранттардын географиялык бөлүштүрүлүшү, миграциянын себептери, Кыргызстанга мигранттардын кайсыл өлкөлөрдөн кайтып келгени жана миграция мезгилдери жөнүндө маалымат берүү максатында Мобилдүүлүк Боюнча Баштапкы Баалоону (BMA) ишке ашырат. Маалыматтар айылдык деңгээлде негизги маалымат берүүчүлөрдөн жана түздөн-түз байкоолордон чогултулат.                          

Мобилдүүлүк Боюнча Баштапкы Баалоо (BMA) Кыргыз Республикасынын бардык жети облусунда (Баткен, Чүй, Ысык- Көл, Жалал-Абад, Нарын, Ош жана Талас), анын ичинде бул облустардагы бардык 40 райондорунда (аймактарда), ошондой эле Кыргызстандын эки ири шаарында (Бишкек борбор шаары жана Ош шаары) жүргүзүлдү. Бул баалоо 1 159 негизги маалымат берүүчүлөр менен маектешүү аркылуу 999 жамаатты камтыды. Маалымат берүүчүлөрдүн негизги эсептөөлөрүнүн негизинде, 2020-жылдан 2024-жылдын апрелине чейин Кыргызстандагы бааланган коомчулуктарында 34 966 эл аралык эмгек мигранттары жайгашкандыгы билинди. Ошол эле учурда бааланган жамааттарда 44 391 ички мигрант жайгашкан жана 227 629 кыргызстандык жаран чет өлкөдө эмигрант катары жашап жатканы кабарланууда. Мындан тышкары, чет өлкөдөн 128 661 мигрант кайтып келген. Мобилдүүлүк Боюнча Баштапкы Баалоонун 3-үчүнчү айлампасы Кыргыз Республикасынын Эмгек, социалдык камсыздоо жана миграция министрлиги (ЭСКММ) менен тыгыз кызматташтыкта өткөрүлөт.

В целях отслеживания мобильности населения, предоставления информации об оценочной численности мигрантов, географическом распределении трудящихся мигрантов и вернувшихся мигрантов, причинах миграции и о странах, из которых мигранты возвращаются в Кыргызстан, с помощью матрицы МТМ была внедрена Базовая оценка мобильности (BMA). Данные собираются на уровне сел от ключевых информаторов и путем прямых наблюдений.

Базовая оценка мобильности (BMA) проводилась во всех семи областях (Баткенской, Чуйской, Иссык-Кульской, Джалал-Абадской, Нарынской, Ошской и Таласской) Кыргызской Республики, включая все 40 районов этих областей и в двух самых крупных городах – в столице, г. Бишкек и в г. Ош. Оценка охватила 999 сообществ; 1 159 ключевых информаторов было опрошено. По оценкам ключевых информаторов, в период с 2020 года по апрель 2024 года в оцениваемых населенных пунктах Кыргызстана было размещено 34 966 международных трудящихся-мигрантов. Одновременно с этим 44 391 внутренних мигрантов проживало в этих населенных пунктах, а 227 629 граждан Кыргызстана, по имеющимся данным, проживают за рубежом в качестве эмигрантов. Кроме того, 128 661 мигрантов вернулось из-за границы. Третий раунд BMA проводится в тесном сотрудничестве с Министерством труда, социального обеспечения и миграции (МТСОМ) Кыргызской Республики.

MTM implements the Return Migrants Survey in Kyrgyzstan with international return migrants in various locations including seven regions and two cities. The selection of survey locations was informed by the findings of MTM’s Baseline Mobility Assessment (BMA) on return migrants. The survey questionnaire drew upon IOM's previous studies in Central Asia and consultations with both internal and external experts. It covered a range of topics including socio-economic profiles, migration experiences, employment status, remittances, as well as identifying needs and vulnerabilities.

In the third round of the survey (conducted from May to July 2024), 1,734 return migrants were interviewed. The key findings reveal significant insights into their circumstances. The majority of return migrants, 79 per cent, came from the Russian Federation. Moreover, 41 per cent of the respondents reported having attained an upper secondary education level, while 37 per cent of the respondents identified themselves as the primary breadwinners for their families. Moreover, a notable portion, 90 per cent, stated they either live in their own or their parents' houses. The majority, 23 per cent of the return migrants, were previously engaged in the construction sector. In addition, 30 per cent of the return migrants indicated that they wanted to permanently stay in Kyrgyzstan without any intended plans for re-migration.