This dashboard compiles flow monitoring survey (FMS) data collected in Lesotho between March and June 2021 and provides an analysis of migrants’ demographic and socio-economic profiles, including education and employment backgrounds; reasons for leaving their country of origin or habitual residence; future travel intentions; awareness of the COVID-19 outbreak; and challenges faced as a result of it.

In addition, the revised FMS form has also been enhanced with labour mobility and human development (LHD) indicators with a particular focus on the migrants’ highest level of educational qualification achieved and main subject areas, their employment status before migrating, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on remittances.

Majority of migrants interviewed are from Lekhalong in Mafeteng district and most of them are Basotho. During  this four months (March to June), a total of 777 surveys were conducted in four districts, Basotho (715), South Africa (52)  and Others (10). Most of the respondents were adult males (52%) and female (48%). Most respondents displayed awareness of the ongoing  COVID-19 pandemic (99%). Most of respondents from Lesotho where originary from Mohaleshoek, representing 43% per cent, followed by respondents from Mafeteng (39%),followed by Qacha’s Neck (10% and Quthing (8%)

IOM works with national and local authorities in order to gain a better understanding of population movements throughout Southern Africa. Through the setup of Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs), IOM seeks to quantify migration flows, trends and routes and to gain a better understanding of the profiles of observed individuals at entry, transit or exit points (such as border crossing posts, bus stations, rest areas, police checkpoints and reception centres). This report is an overview of the data collected in these Lesotho FMPs from 1 March 2021 to 30 June 2021.

•Mafeteng (Lesotho)– South Africa

•Mohaleshoek (Lesotho)– South Africa

•Quthing (Lesotho) – South Africa

•Qacha (Lesotho) – South Africa

From 1 March to 30 June 2021, a total of 23,179 movements were observed across 12 FMPs in Lesotho. The Lesotho-South Africa (Mafeteng Paqama) corridor hosted the largest number of individuals (5,793). The majority of migrants were Basotho - 21,579 (93%).  This was followed by the South Africans, with 558 individuals (2%). 

The DTM Emergency Event Tracking (EET) is deployed to track sudden displacement and population movements, provide more frequent updates on the scale of displacement, and quantify the affected population when needed. As a subcomponent of the new Mobility Tracking methodology in Sudan (Round Two), and activated on a need basis, EET utilises a broad network of key informants to capture best estimates of the affected population presence per location – a useful tool for humanitarian response planning and design.

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

During the reporting period, between 07 and 13 November 2021, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 1,448 households (HH) (8,688 individuals) displaced at least once. Conict was the main reason for displacement, accounting for 99 per cent (1,437 HH) of the total, followed by economic reasons, accounting for one per cent (11 HH). From 01 January to 13 November 2021, IOM Yemen DTM estimates that 19,894 households (119,364 individuals) have experienced displacement at least once.

Some 380 HH displaced in the previous reporting period, which covered 31 October - 06 November 2021, were only identied in the current period and so, this gure has been added to the cumulative displacement total recorded from the beginning of the year