Given the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture,changing rainfall patterns linked to climate change are compromising the ability of farmers, livestock rearers and fishers to sustain their livelihoods. Reduced rainfall may decrease agricultural yields and herds, causing economic losses and forcing some families to abandon these livelihoods altogether. 

The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) in Iraq developed a rapid, multi-sectoral assessment of challenges related to displacement, environmental hazards, irrigation water supply, livelihoods, coping strategies and tension and conflict over natural resources. Data collection for this assessment took place between September and December 2023 in 804 locations across 3 governorates, 20 districts and 71 subdistricts in KRI.

The impact of climate change is less noticeable and more localized in KRI than in central and southern Iraq. No climate-induced displacement, secondary displacement or failed returns were recorded in KRI this round.

The findings suggest that climactic impacts are more widespread in Erbil than Sulaymaniyah governorates but families in Erbil have been slightly more able to adapt by employing a wider range of coping strategies like diversifying livelihoods and changing agricultural activities. On the other hand, the wider range of water-related issues reported in Sulaymaniyah, such as agricultural intensification and broken or inefficient water infrastructure, offer numerous entry points for programmatic interventions.

Since October 8 there has been an increase in cross-border incidents between Israel and Lebanon, resulting in the displacement of people both within the South and elsewhere within the country. Since October 10, the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has been conducting the daily monitoring of population movements. The objective of the exercise is to inform preparedness and response planning.

DTM Europe gathers, validates and disseminates information on migrants and refugees travelling through the Mediterranean, Western African Atlantic, and Western Balkan routes to Europe. Key routes include:

• Eastern Mediterranean route (EMR): Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece
• Central Mediterranean route (CMR): Italy and Malta
• Western Mediterranean route (WMR): Peninsular Coasts of Spain, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla
• Western African Atlantic route (WAAR): Canary Islands of Spain

DTM also monitors data on migrants in transit through the Western Balkans (WB) region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, and Kosovo*). These are considered separately to prevent to the extent possible the double counting of the same persons that cross multiple borders to reach Europe.

This report presents the latest available data and trends, focusing on 2023:

• Mixed Migration Flows to Europe
• Migrant Flows Monitoring in the Republic of Türkiye
• First Arrival countries (Italy, Greece, Spain) and other countries of first arrival (Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta)
• Transits through the Western Balkan region
• Migrants' presence, in Europe and the Republic of Türkiye

The IOM Afghanistan’s DTM Flow Monitoring activity is designed to provide insights into the mobility patterns at Afghanistan’s border points with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. The activity involves two interlinked exercises: the Flow Monitoring Counting (FMC), a headcount of individuals crossing the border, and the Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS), which collect data on the profiles and intentions of randomly selected Afghan nationals. DTM FM is operational at four main crossing points (connected to Afghanistan’s National Highway) as well as five 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 study explores the influence of climate change and environmental degradation on international migration patterns from Iraq. In particular, the assessment identifies climate-affected subdistricts of origin for potential emigrants and analyses key migration trends among this group, such as demographic characteristics, reasons for leaving, intended destination and travel arrangements. In doing so, the report highlights priority geographic areas for further assessment and climate-related programming. The potential interaction between climate change and other drivers of migration is also considered. Moreover, the analysis sheds light on the profile and intention of those in movement. Furthermore, mediating factors, such as financial means and social networks, are examined to understand how aspiring migrants are able to undertake these journeys. Lastly, risk factors for exploitation and abuse are highlighted to inform relevant programming such as protection services, awareness raising campaigns and broader policy reform.

This latest round of Emergency Trends Tracking was initiated in April 2024 to monitor displacements movements during the Gu rainy season. Districts covered in this round include Afgooye, Afmadow, Baardheere, Baidoa, Balcad, Belet Weyne, Dayniile, Gaalkacyo, Hodan, Jamaame, Jowhar, Kahda, Kismaayo, Luuq.

ETT is a crisis-based tool that tracks sudden displacement triggered by specific events or emerging crises. The objective of ETT is to help prioritize humanitarian response and to enable partners to deliver rapid assistance. Based on previous shock induced displacement patterns, the humanitarian community expects that people will continue to move toward urban areas in search of humanitarian services. Consequently, the ETT coverage focuses on the main urban centers and surrounding villages for each assessed district. The data is collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) at the location level, from Sunday to Wednesday every week. It includes information on new arrivals, numbers and demographic of IDPs, reasons for displacement, intentions, humanitarian assistance and priority needs among others.

The ETT tool also adapts to regional contexts: because of the very high number of IDP sites in Khada and Daynile districts in Banadir region and in Baidoa district in Bay region, a zonal approach has been adopted for these areas. Each week, KIIs are first conducted at the zone level to indicate to the field teams which locations have received the most new arrivals and which need to be assessed. To facilitate the joint analysis of the CCCM (Camp Coordination and Camp Management) Cluster’s New Arrivals Tracker (NAT) and ETT data, the assistance and needs indicators are identical in both tools.

Following the release of the first edition of PROGRESS 2023 report, the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) carried out focus group discussions to understand the nuances of the effects of displacement from the perspectives of individuals who were displaced, had returned or were part of communities which hosted IDPs. The focus group discussions served as a forum to share viewpoints that are not often captured by traditional data collection exercises, including affected communities' perceptions of cultural and gendered effects of displacement in their communities. The discussions were conducted in local languages and translated by IOM DTM staff.

The 2014 - 2017 conflict against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) displaced nearly 6 million Iraqis, with the Government of Iraq formally announcing the end of the conflict in December 2017. As of April 2024, 4,871,916 individuals returned from displacement to their areas of origin. However, 1,098,913 people still remain internally displaced more than six years after the end of the conflict. This report presents a deeper country-specific dive into the findings of the qualitative analysis of six focus group discussions conducted between 1 and 15 August 2023 in Kirkuk and Hawija districts (Kirkuk Governorate) and Makhmur district (Erbil Governorate) with 43 representatives of IDPs, host community and returnees from displacement linked to the 2014 - 2017 conflict. Just under half (47%) of the respondents were female. Nearly three quarters (72%) of respondents were between the age of 18 and 59, a further quarter (23%) were older than 60 years and 5 per cent were under the age of 17.