In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in North Kivu province, a prolonged and increasingly complex conflict persists, characterized by the presence of numerous armed groups, including the M23 group and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and their respective allies. Since the beginning of this year, the M23 has been advancing in the eastern part of the DRC, particularly towards Goma, which serves as the capital of North Kivu. Recent actions by the M23 suggest their intention to take control of Goma, potentially marking their second occupation of the city after a brief period of control in 2012.

Since the onset of the crisis, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), through the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) continues to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including Emergency Tracking (EET/ERM), Crisis Analysis and
Registration activities, addressing immediate information needs with a view to understanding displacement dynamics and needs. This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the various displacement and return areas from 29 March to 26 April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic marked an unprecedented shock to human mobility, shuttering borders and restricting movements in ways not seen in our lifetime. This report reflects the first attempt to assess how human movements has changed in the wake of this seismic event, by analysing Flow Monitoring data from the International Organization for Migration that surveys migrants at formal and informal border crossings. This report sketches how movements have fully recovered from pandemic-era restrictions and how they are being shaped by climate and displacement shocks through seven cases studies that cover a wide range of migrant destinations. This report is the third in a three-part series on the impact of COVID-19 on human mobility. 

The findings of this study confirm that lacking travel documents is a contributing and exacerbating factor driving vulnerability among migrants in Libya. The data points to migrants’ experiences including whether they are able to obtain a work permit or a passport being strongly influenced by a range of factors including the conditions in the country of origin (e.g. ease of access to government-recognised ID), migration drivers (e.g. war and conflict hindering migrants’ ability to obtain the necessary travel documents), migration intentions (e.g. those who do not intend to stay in Libya are less likely to possess a travel documents) and means of transportation used to reach Libya (e.g. those having traveled by air are more likely to possess travel documents).

Overall, nine in ten migrants interviewed by DTM in November and December 2023 in Libya were without a work permit. Moreover, nearly two thirds of migrants did not possess a passport, a key precondition in obtaining a work permit.

IOM Yemen DTM’s Rapid Displacement Tracking (RDT) tool collects data on estimated numbers of households forced to flee on a daily basis from their locations of origin or displacement, allowing for regular reporting of new displacements in terms of estimated numbers, geography, and needs. It also tracks returnees who returned to their location of origin.

From 1 January to 4 May 2024, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 1,159 households (HH) (6,954 Individuals) who experienced displacement at least once.

Between 28 April and 4 May 2024, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 32 households (192 individuals) displaced at least once. The majority of people moved into/within the following governorates and districts:

• Ma’rib (25 HHs) – Ma’rib (13 HHs), Ma’rib City (10 HHs), Harib (2 HHs) districts. Most displacements in the governorate originated from Ta’iz and Ma’rib.
• Ta’iz (6 HHs) – Jabal Habashi (5 HHs), Salah (1 HH) districts. All displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Ad Dali (1 HH) – Ad Dali (1 HH) district. All displacements in the governorate were internal.

The majority of people moved from the following governorates and districts:

• Ta’iz (11 HH) – Al Maafer (5 HHs), Al Misrakh (4 HHs), Salah (1 HH) districts.
• Ma’rib (5 HH) – Harib (2 HHs), Jabal Murad (2 HHs), Rahabah (1 HH) districts.
• Dhamar (3 HH) – Otmah (2 HHs), Dawran Anis (1 HH) districts.

IOM identified 56 additional households displaced in the previous reporting period, which covered 21 - 27 April 2024, in the governorates of Al Hodeidah (29 HHs), Ta’iz (16 HHs), Ma’rib (9 HHs), and Ad Dali (2 HHs). These figures have been added to the cumulative displacement total recorded since the beginning of the year.

IOM Afghanistan's DTM Flow Monitoring activity, initiated at the beginning of 2024, seeks to quantify and better understand the mobility dynamics at Afghanistan’s borders. On 10 January 2024, DTM began deploying field teams at four border crossing points with the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRN) and Pakistan (PAK), expanding to another border crossing point Ghulam Khan as of 11 February (see map below for the locations of all five crossing points), to conduct two interlinked exercises. The first is a headcount of all individuals entering or leaving Afghanistan (including returnees), also called Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC), to gauge flow volume. The second is a survey of randomly selected Afghan national individuals or groups entering or leaving Afghanistan, also called the Flow Monitoring Survey (FMS), to understand the profiles, motivations, and vulnerabilities of the target population. The inflow from Pakistan increased over the monitoring period. This may be related to media reports and speculation about a potential resumption of the repatriation process, targeting primarily Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, starting from April 15, 2024. However, according to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of April 26, the repatriation process has not yet begun. Additionally, the Government of Pakistan recently extended the validity of 1.3 million PoR cards for Afghan refugees in Pakistan up to June 30, with their repatriation planned for after the repatriation of ACC holders (Voice of America News). This snapshot provides key findings combining various IOM data sources, including DTM Afghanistan’s FMC and FMS activities, DTM Pakistan’s Flow Monitoring of Afghan returnees, and IOM Afghanistan’s Cross-Border Post-Arrival Humanitarian Assistance (CB-PAHA) program, for the period 21 to 27 April 2024. For more information about methodology, see the section in the last page of this report titled “IOM INFLOW DATA.” 

These findings were collected following an armed attack on the 2nd of May, 2024, in the municipality of Delmas, specifically in the neighborhood of Cité Numéro 2. As a consequence of this incident, individuals residing in five sites within the neighborhoods of Cité Numéro 2, Carrefour Pean, and 2eme cité Saint Martin were compelled to evacuate these premises entirely. The total number of displaced persons amounted to 3,720, encompassing both residents from the aforementioned five sites and those from the Cité Numéro 2 neighborhood. These internally displaced persons (IDPs) relocated to the communes of Port-au-Prince and Delmas. Of the IDPs, 60% sought refuge with host families, while the remaining 40% settled in nine sites, consisting of three newly established sites, five pre-existing sites, and one site that serves as an extension of an existing one.

Overview

IOM DTM Sudan presents its eighth Monthly Displacement Overview. This publication provides an account of Sudan’s displacement context since 15 April 2023 – outlining population mobility and displacement, as well as the present and evolving needs of IDPs across Sudan. It provides further contextual analysis for all 18 states for the period between 22 March and 25 April  2024. 

Rationale

Recognizing the need for more detailed insights into the IDP situation, including the priority needs, access to services, movement intentions, and demographic breakdowns of the affected population, DTM Sudan has undertaken a comprehensive review of our data collection tool. In collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, we have developed a new tool to better inform humanitarian response operations, aligning with the DTM global methodology. Leveraging our extensive network of approximately 367 field-based enumerators and a robust system of over 3,698 key informants across the country, DTM gathered data on IDPs across 7,251 locations, in 182 of Sudan’s 189 localities, across all of Sudan’s 18 states, during March 2024. 

Key Findings

• DTM Sudan estimates that 6,786,816 individuals (1,352,268 households) have been recently internally displaced as of 25 April 2024.
• IOM DTM also reports that an estimated 2,075,369 mixed cross-border movements have been made into neighbouring countries.
• Since 15 April 2023, 46 per cent of the IDP caseload sought refuge in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, whereas 53 per cent were observed across the Northern, Eastern, and Central states.
• The majority of the IDP caseload (65%) were seeking shelter with the host community.
• While food remains the highest priority need, health and non-food items are also growing concerns.

Between 22 and 28 April 2024, a total of 1,252 new arrivals were recorded at locations in Adamawa and Borno states. The new arrivals were recorded at locations in Askira/Uba, Bama, Biu, Damboa, Gubio, Gwoza, Hawul, Kaga, Kala Balge, Konduga, Monguno and Ngala Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the most conflict-affected Borno State, and in Fufore, Gombi, Guyuk, Hong, Lamurde, Madagali, Maiha, Mayo-Belwa, Michika, Mubi North, Song, Yola North and Yola South LGAs of Adamawa State.
ETT assessments identified the following movement triggers: poor living conditions (309 individuals or 25%), improved security (250 individuals or 20%), seasonal farming (242 individuals or 19%), family re-unification (160 individuals or 13%), fear of attack (154 individuals or 12%), military operations (100 individuals or 8%) and attack (37 individuals or 3%).