Monthly overview of:

• Arrivals in the Western Balkans
• Top three nationalities at arrivals in the reporting month
• Migrants presence in reception facilities
• Assisted Voluntary Returns and reintegration

Countries covered: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo*.

* References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)

The Oblast Profiles provide key representative findings for 16 oblasts and Kyiv City on current population estimates, displacement flows and mobility intentions, demographics, household composition and vulnerabilities, and the needs of present populations. They also focus on the adoption of coping strategies to meet needs, social cohesion, and income.

This report presents findings from Rounds 18 of the General Population Survey (GPS). Data collection was conducted from 12 August to 15 October 2024. 

Monthly overview of: Arrivals in the Western Balkans Top three nationalities at arrivals in the reporting month Migrants presence in reception facilities Assisted Voluntary Returns and reintegration Countries covered: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo*. * References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)

Between October 22 and December 19, 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) carried out Round 19 of the General Population Survey (GPS), which offers a highly representative assessment of internal displacement in Ukraine. The data in this report, commissioned by IOM, was gathered by 64 enumerators from Multicultural Insights through screener phone-based interviews involving 40,002 randomly selected respondents, alongside follow-up interviews with 1,445 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 1,200 returnees, and 1,800 non-displaced. These interviews were conducted using the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) method and a random digit dial (RDD) approach.

This report presents the main findings from Round 19 of the GPS, providing detailed insights into population figures, analysis of return flows and mobility intentions, demographic profiles, household composition and vulnerabilities, and the needs of the returnee population. These insights aim to support evidence-based decision-making on strategic, technical, and programmatic aspects of the response and recovery efforts in Ukraine.

Between October 22 and December 19, 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) carried out Round 19 of the General Population Survey (GPS), which offers a highly representative assessment of internal displacement in Ukraine. The data in this report, commissioned by IOM, was gathered by 64 enumerators from Multicultural Insights through screener phone-based interviews involving 40,002 randomly selected respondents, alongside follow-up interviews with 1,445 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 1,200 returnees, and 1,800 non-displaced. These interviews were conducted using the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) method and a random digit dial (RDD) approach.

This report presents the main findings from Round 19 of the GPS, providing detailed insights into population figures, analysis of displacement flows and mobility intentions, demographic profiles, household composition and vulnerabilities, and the needs of the displaced population. These insights aim to support evidence-based decision-making on strategic, technical, and programmatic aspects of the response and recovery efforts in Ukraine

Between 18 December 2024 and 10 January 2025, DTM field teams monitored the return of an estimated 55,466 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to locations across Sennar state .

• Of all IDPs in Sudan, an estimated 309,800 were originally displaced from locations across Sennar. Of these, approximately 18 per cent (55,466 IDPs) returned to locations across Sennar.
• IDPs primarily moved back to Sennar from Gedaref (55%) and Kassala (20%), followed by Blue Nile (16%), Red Sea (6%), and White Nile (2%) states. 
• The majority of IDPs who moved back to Sennar (66%) were located in As Suki locality, followed by Ad Dinder locality (11%). 

Note: IDPs who moved back to Sennar may not have returned to their locations of origin and may remain displaced within Sennar. DTM Sudan defines a returnee as someone who was previously displaced from their habitual residence in Sudan due to an event dating from 2003 onwards, who has now voluntarily returned to their location of habitual residence, irrespective of whether they have returned to their formal residence or to another shelter type. 

The Horn of Africa and Yemen is one of the busiest and riskiest migration corridors in the world travelled by hundreds of thousands of migrants, the majority of whom travel in an irregular manner, often relying on smugglers to facilitate movement along the Eastern Route. This regional report provides monthly updates on the complex migratory dynamics through Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen based on diverse data sources and consultations with key informants in the four countries. Moreover, it provides information on the main protection concerns for migrants along the journey, a focus on children and information on the forced returns from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen.

Key findings:

• As of November 2024 (2,041), return movements from the Eastern Route to Ethiopia were through Flow Monitoring surpassed all returns from 2023 (2,003).
• As of November 2024 (6,757), the number of movements of children travelling alone exiting Ethiopia surpassed all of those in 2023 (6,037), a 12% increase.
• Of the 328 migrants surveyed travelling along the Eastern Route through Djibouti in November 2024, 85% reported facing at least one challenge during their journey, being lack of food and water (80%), lack of shelter (78%) and financial challenges (13%) the most pressing needs.1
• As of November 2024, the number of movements tracked in Bossaso heading towards the Arabian Peninsula (52,800) surpassed those in 2023 (47,800).
• Children made up 65% of people seeking assistance in Hargeisa and 19% in Bossaso MRCs. Around one third (35%) of registered children were reported as unaccompanied, most of whom were assisted in Bossaso.
• The number of migrant arrivals in Yemen from the Horn of Africa more than doubled (+183%) between October and November, the highest figure reported since April 2023 (13,400). In fact, November represents almost half (45%) of all migrant arrivals in Yemen during 2024 (40,300).
• In fact, November 2024 observed the highest number of migrant child arriving in Yemen from the Horn of Africa since the start of the Flow Monitoring operations in 2018, surpassing the highest figure reported in March 2023 (4,777).
• As of November 2024 (7,887), the number of women arriving in Yemen from the Horn of Africa surpassed all the arrivals reported in 2023 (6,295), with November being the highest month in the number of women arrivals from the Horn of Africa since June 2019 (2,003).

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’s Flow Monitoring Registry (FMR) conducts surveys on individuals in transit at strategic points within South Sudan (SSD) and its borders. The FMR provides valuable insights into mobility patterns, migration drivers, and traveler demographics. This information is used by humanitarian organizations, development partners, and the government to strengthen their programs. Additionally, the FMR complements DTM’s monitoring efforts during natural disasters.

As of December 2024, 18 Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) were operational, monitoring internal movements and cross-border flows with neighboring countries, including Uganda (UGA), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan (SDN), Ethiopia (ETH), Kenya (KEN), and the Central African Republic (CAR). The figures reflect trends observed among respondents at the active FMPs only, as DTM’s coverage does not capture all cross-border or internal flows. Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous, with groups of individuals traveling together often surveyed collectively, typically representing a household.

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 the 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.