The Central African Republic, which has experienced continuous volatility for the past two decades, has been riddled by a crisis which ignited in 2012 with a violent takeover of power and has developed into a complex protracted state of permanent insecurity and fragility which has spilled over into neighbouring countries. The crisis is characterized by power struggles amongst elites, the absence of state institutions and public investment, religious and ethnic tensions and disputes for the control of key resources. More recently, the crisis in Sudan, which started in April 2023, is affecting the eastern part of the Central African Republic witnessing arrivals of displaced populations. As of May 2023, 3,799,975 individuals were affected, including 488,861 internally displaced persons (13% of the displaced population), 2,063,885 returnees former IDPs (54%), 503,019 returnees from abroad (13%) and 744,210 refugees in neighbouring countries (20%). In the Central African Republic, the largest displaced population consists of former IDP returnees as observed. Refugees from the Central African Republic are primarily hosted by Cameroon (350,780 individuals, or 47% of the refugees), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (210,238 individuals, or 28% of the refugees) and Chad (126,252 individuals, or 17% of the refugees). Nonetheless, 24,370 refugees from the Central African Republic are still living in Sudan (24,370 individuals). Since the beginning of the Sudan crisis, a total of 4,071 Central Africans have returned to their country of origin through the border in Am-Dafock, representing 4 per cent of returns from abroad.

The Central Sahel area, and in particular the Liptako Gourma region, which borders Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, is affected by a complex crisis involving growing competition over dwindling resources; climatic variability; demographic pressure; high levels of poverty; disaffection and a lack of livelihood opportunities; communal tensions; the absence of state institutions and basic services; and violence related to organized crime and non-state armed groups. The crisis has triggered significant displacement of populations in the concerned countries and is affecting neighbouring countries such as Mauritania and the coastal countries.

As of May 2023, 2,863,479 individuals have been displaced, including 2,617,185 internally displaced persons (91% of the displaced population) and 246,294 refugees (9% of the displaced population). Seventy-three per cent of the displaced populations (2,090,328 individuals) were located in Burkina Faso, while 14 per cent resided in Mali (410,039 individuals), 8 per cent in Niger (235,217 individuals) and 3 per cent in Mauritania (98,474 individuals). The crisis’ recent spill over to coastal countries, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin, shows growing number of refugees coming from the Central Sahel and populations internally displaced. As of May, 29,421 individuals were affected by displacement within the four countries (2,294 in Benin, 6,316 in Côte d’Ivoire, 6,311 in Ghana and 14,500 in Togo) of which 10,397 were internally displaced.

The crisis currently affecting the Lake Chad Basin states results from a complex combination of factors, including conflict with non-state armed groups, extreme poverty, underdevelopment and a changing climate, which together have triggered significant displacement of populations. As of May 2023, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria were hosting an estimated 6,057,885 affected individuals made up of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees (former IDPs and returnees from abroad) and refugees (both in- and out-of-camp). 

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 1 July 2023, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 3,482 households (HH) (20,892 Individuals) who experienced displacement at least once.

Between 25 June and 1 July 2023, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 07 households (042 individuals) displaced at least once. The majority of people moved into/within the following governorates and districts:

• Al Hodeidah (3 HHs) – Al Khukhah (3 HHs) district. All displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Ma’rib (2 HHs) – Ma’rib (2 HHs) district. Most displacements in the governorate originated from Ibb and Dhamar.
• Ta’iz (1 HH) – Al Misrakh (1 HH) district. All displacements in the governorate originated from Amran.

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

• Al Hodeidah (3 HHs) – Al Hawak (1 HH), At Tuhayta (1 HH), Hays (1 HH) districts.
• Al Bayda (1 HH) – Dhi Naim (1 HH) district.
• Ibb (1 HH) – Hazm Al Odayn (1 HH) district.

This report is based on 5,591 valid surveys collected by DTM between January and March 2023 with adult individuals crossing into Ukraine. About 95 per cent of them were Ukrainians, and 5 per cent Third-Country Nationals (TCNs).

• The profiles and needs expressed by Ukrainians crossing back from neighbouring countries and surveyed between January and March 2023 mostly match with those ofthe actual returnees from abroad surveyed in Ukraine in January 2023.
• 61% of Ukrainians interviewed stayed in one of the neighbouring countries, for an average period of 6 months before crossing back. The rest stayed mainly in Germany, Czechia, and the UK.
• 48% of the surveyed went to Ukraine for short visit only, 40% intended to remain, 12% were not sure of their intentions. Men more frequently reported the intention to stay (55%) than women (38%).
• Main reason to move is the desire to reunite with family members, both in case of returns and of short visits. One fourth of those doing a short visit wanted to obtain or renew identity documents (biometric passport, diplomas, licenses), one fifth of them were going to the doctor in Ukraine (visits with paediatricians, dentists and gynaecologists were mentioned).
• Around 15 per cent of the total and 58 per cent of those travelling in a group, were with at least one child (<18 years old) when crossing back. This is far less than what reported by respondents crossing back and surveyed in the same locations during 2022.
• Top 3 needs: financial support (21%), health support (17%), medicines (12%). Almost half (49%) of respondents reported no needs.
• The survey captured movements of Ukrainians from Latvia to the Russian Federation to reach areas that are not under Ukraine’s government control.
• Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) were crossing back to resume studies/work in regions non-affected by the war

From 15 April 2023, armed clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in multiple cities across Sudan, including Khartoum, Al Fasher, Kebkabiya, Merowe, Nyala, Zalingi, Ag Geneina, and El Obeid. DTM Sudan has been receiving reports of widespread displacement across different states in Sudan due to the ongoing security situation. 

• DTM Sudan estimates that, since the conflict began on 15 April 2023, approximately 2,231,523 individuals (447,031 households) have been displaced internally as a result of the conflict. Notably, the current estimate for displacement in the previous 80 days is greater than that of recorded displacement during the previous four years.
• Furthermore, an estimated additional 697,151 individuals have crossed into neighbouring countries.

Due to the ongoing nature of the fighting, many areas reportedly remain inaccessible to field teams. DTM estimates of displacement are based on preliminary reports from field teams and should be taken as estimations only. Additional reports of displacement are likely to emerge as the situation becomes clearer.

The IDP caseload has sought shelter in locations across all of Sudan’s 18 states. IDPs have been originally displaced from eight states, including Khartoum, West Darfur, South Darfur, North Darfur, Central Darfur, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and Aj Jazirah.

Disclaimer: DTM Sudan notes that military clashes remain continuous in many areas across Sudan in particular in Khartoum and the Darfur region – limiting humanitarian access. Additionally, field teams have reported severe telecommunication and connectivity issues, as well as escalating economic pressures which have impacted the capacity for domestic travel. As such, DTM is currently conducting remote interviews with key informants across its network and is currently unable to engage in the additional verification of these figures. Data on flows into neighbouring countries is based on available information from DTM flow monitoring networks and secondary sources. 

This document presents the resumption of migration from the coasts of West Africa to the Canary Islands (Spain). This route, already active in 2006, saw an increasing number of movements in 2023. The risks, deaths and disappearances following shipwrecks are also on the rise along the Atlantic coasts.

Between January and June 2023, 7,213 people reached the Canary Islands irregularly after crossing by boat from the coasts of West Africa, a decrease of 18 per cent compared to 2022 (8,853).

A total of 26,003 movements were observed in May 2023, representing 4 per cent decrease compared to February 2023 when 27,201 movements were observed during this period. If compared with February 2023, Buuhoodle (20%), Cabudwaaq (20%), Lowyacado (18%), Bossaso (14%) and Harirad (12%) FMPs recorded an increase in movements, while Doolow (-19%) and Dhobley (-4%) FMPs recorded a decrease in movements. Doolow (45%), Cabudwaaq (21%) and Dhobley (15%) FMPs recorded the highest numbers of incoming flows, while Doolow (46%), Bossaso (31%) and Dhobley (8%) recorded the highest numbers of outgoing flows.

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 FMPs from 1 to 31 May 2023.

Inter-regional migration from and within the Southern Africa is categorized along the following corridors. The Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) were set-up in several key transit locations along the corridors to track the movements of passengers:

•Zimbabwe (Mutare) – Mozambique (Manica)

•Zimbabwe (Chirundu) – Zambia

•Zimbabwe – Botswana (Plumtree)

•Zimbabwe – South Africa (Beitbridge)

•Malawi (Karonga ) – United Republic of Tanzania

•Malawi (Mwanza) – Mozambique (Zobue) 

•Malawi (Mangochi) – Mozambique

•Mozambique (Ressano Garcia) – South Africa

Over the reporting period a total of 68,726 movements were observed across 43 FMPs in the region. The Zimbabwe – South Africa corridor hosted the largest number of movements with 3 36,669 (53%) followed by the Malawi (Mwanza) – Mozambique (Zobue) corridor with 8,983 (13%) and the Zimbabwe (Chirundu) – Zambia corridor with 6,200 (9%) movements reported.