In the context of the COVID-19 emergency, since March 19, 2020, the Government of Costa Rica has kept its land border with Panama closed for the Binational Controlled Flow Operation, which sought an orderly and safe migration of migrants moving through the Americas3.

Given the presence of this irregular migration flow, since August 24, 2021, IOM Panama has published information on the irregular migration flow in Darién, Panama4 under the context of COVID-19, identifying that between August 2021 and January 2022, 93,139 migrants have entered Panama: Haiti (61%), Cuba (11%), Chile and Brazil with 7 percent, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (4%), among other countries of South America, Africa and Asia (10%).

In Costa Rica, during 2022, a steady increase in the number of migrants of this migration flow has been identified (it has increased by 20% compared to December 2021, when the monitoring of flows in Costa Rica began). In addition, according to data from the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME), during May 2021 and February 2022, 4,976 rejections5 have been made in Paso Canoas.

In Costa Rica, there are many perceived vulnerabilities: people traveling alone, children, disoriented elderly people, people with medical problems, emotional exhaustion caused by stress, anguish and frustration. In addition, the main needs identified are associated with access to food, clothing, diapers, shelter, medicines and transportation. Many people have lost their identification documents and are reluctant to receive medical assistance, as they believe that they would not be allowed to continue their journey.

En el marco de la emergencia por la COVID-19, desde el 19 de marzo del 2020, el Gobierno de Costa Rica mantiene cerrada su frontera terrestre con Panamá para la Operación Binacional Flujo Controlado, la cual procuraba una migración ordenada y segura de personas migrantes en situación de movilidad por América3.

Ante la presencia de este flujo migratorio irregular, desde el 24 de agosto de 2021, OIM Panamá ha publicado información sobre el flujo migratorio irregular en Darién, Panamá4 bajo el contexto de la COVID-19, identificando que, desde agosto de 2021 y enero de 2022, han ingresado a Panamá 93.139 personas migrantes: Haití (61%), Cuba (11%), Chile y Brasil con 7%, República Bolivariana de Venezuela (4%), entre otros países del Sur de América, África y Asia (10%).

En Costa Rica, durante el 2022, se ha identificado un aumento constante en la cantidad de personas migrantes de este flujo migratorio (ha aumentado en un 20% en comparación con diciembre, 2021, cuando inició el monitoreo de flujos en Costa Rica). Además, de acuerdo con datos de la Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), durante mayo de 2021 y febrero de 2022 se han realizaron 4.976 rechazos5 en Paso Canoas.

En Costa Rica se perciben muchas vulnerabilidades: personas viajando solas, niños y niñas, personas adultas mayores desorientadas, personas con problemas médicos, desgaste emocional ocasionado por estrés, angustia y frustración. Además, las principales necesidades detectadas se asocian con el acceso a alimento, ropa, pañales, alojamiento, medicamentos y transporte. Muchas personas han perdido sus documentos de identificación y se reúsan a recibir asistencia médica, pues consideran que no se les permitiría continuar con su viaje.

Trinidad and Tobago, similar to many other countries, continues to wrestle with the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which became manifest on the island in March 2020. This virus, however, presented another layer of complexity to an already complicated context. More pointedly, since 2016, the country has been grappling with escalating inflows of Venezuelan migrants, given the deteriorating situation in Venezuela. Additionally, from as early as 2014, it encountered significant economic challenges that were precipitated by plummeting energy commodity prices and sector contraction. Consequently, heightened health and safety protocols to combat the spread of the virus, such as the closure of national borders and non-essential businesses; the introduction of virtual school and work; and the declaration of a State of Emergency in May 2021; inadvertently exacerbated economic issues and migrant vulnerabilities.

IOM’s DTM is a system to track and monitor displacement and population mobility. It is designed to capture, process and disseminate critical multi-layered information on the mobility, vulnerabilities, and needs of displaced and mobile populations, regularly and systematically. Hence, the DTM provides decision-makers and responders with insightful data to guide specific assistance to target populations.

A total of 1,376 Venezuelan migrants participated in DTM 2021, between October and November 2021. The areas with the highest number of respondents were Penal/Debe followed by Chaguanas and Tunapuna/Piarco, as shown in Map 1. Notwithstanding this, three respondents indicated that they did not know in which Regional Corporation or district they resided. This may be due to a high level of internal mobility, amongst the Venezuelan migrant population, and resultant frequent changes in residence.

The current outbreak of COVID-19 has affected global mobility in the form of various travel disruptions and restrictions. To better understand how COVID-19 affects global mobility, DTM has developed a COVID-19 database mapping the different restrictions to provide a global overview. For this, DTM uses the IATA site as the primary source of restrictions with the information reported per country and territory, and to the country of application.

Data collected includes:

1. Date of restriction 
2. Country, territory or area of restriction
3. Countries, territories or areas on which restrictions were imposed
4. Type of restriction- total restriction, or conditional restriction – such as medical/ and or visa restriction

This DTM COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Output presents an analysis based on country imposing, the country being imposed upon, and the aggregation of the restriction type. The aim of the data analysis is to provide an overview of the COVID-19 outbreak on global mobility and to help identify and develop responses.

This IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report presents the data and findings on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees between December 2021 – January 2022, representing round 40 of the DTM Mobility Tracking in Libya. Consistent with the trend observed throughout 2021, in this round of reporting, the numbers of IDPs within the country continued decreasing, with a parallel increase in the number of returnees. As compared to 661,892 returnees identified in round 39, the number of those identified during round 40 increased to 673,554 individuals. This indicates a slight increase in the percentage of those returning (2%), accounting for a total increase of 19 per cent since October 2020 ceasefire in Libya.

This infographic presents the key findings of Round 40 of the mobility tracking component of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme in Libya.

The DTM Emergency Tracking Tool (ETT) is deployed to track and to collect information on large and sudden population movements, provide frequent updates on the scale of displacement and quantify the affected population when needed. As a subcomponent of the Mobility Tracking methodology in Nigeria, ETT utilizes direct observation and a broad network of key informants to capture best estimates of the affected population per location, enabling targeted humanitarian response planning.

Between 28 February and 06 March 2022, a total of 2,785 movements were recorded in Adamawa and Borno States. The recorded movements consisted of 2,226 arrivals and 559 departures. Arrivals were recorded at locations in Askira/Uba, Bama, Biu, Gwoza, Hawul, Monguno and Ngala Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the most conflict-affected Borno State and in Fufore, Girei, Gombi, Hong, Lamurde, Maiha, Michika, Mubi South, Numan, Song, Yola North and Yola South LGAs of Adamawa State.
Departures were recorded in Askira/Uba LGA of Borno State and in Fufore, Gombi, Hong, Lamurde, Maiha, Michika, Mubi South, Numan, Song, Yola North and Yola South LGAs of Adamawa State.

ETT assessments identified the following movement triggers: voluntary relocation (1,361 individuals or 49%), military operations (429 individuals or 16%), conflicts/attacks (368 individuals or 13%), improved security (332 individuals or 12%), poor living conditions (201 individuals or 7%), fear of attack (89 individuals or 3%) and camp closures/government relocation schemes (5 individuals or <1%).

This factsheet presents key findings from the period 16 November to 30 December 2021, this represents the results from the Round 40 of Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) assessments carried out by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in North-east Zone.

During Round 40, DTM identified 2,171,652 IDPs (446,740 households) as well as 1,960,558 Returnees (317,885 households).

Round 14 of the Baseline Mobility Assessment (BMA) and Community-Based Needs Assessment (CBNA) were conducted in November and December 2021. The BMA assessment tracks mobility, provide information on population estimates, locations and geographic distribution of displaced, return and migrant populations, reasons for displacement, places of origin and periods of displacement, while the CBNA documents vulnerabilities and multisectoral needs.

The full BMA report can be found here: Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results (November—December 2021).

The full CBNA report can be found here:
Community-Based Needs Assessment: Summary Results (November—December 2021).