OVERVIEW: The Flow Monitoring Registry (FMR) of the IOM Yemen Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) monitors the arrival of migrants along Yemen’s southern coastal border and the return of Yemeni nationals along its northern border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to identify migration patterns and provide quantitative estimates of the irregular migrant population entering the country. It’s crucial to understand that the FMR does not capture all migration flows as demonstrated by departures to Yemen captured by IOM DTM Djibouti to areas along the West Coast of Yemen which have remained inaccessible for assessments. Instead, it provides indicative insights into migration trends based on a known total number of migrants arriving along monitored coast and land borders during the reporting period.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: In July 2024, the IOM Yemen DTM tracked 1,345 migrants entering Yemen, a 26 per cent decrease from the total figure reported in the previous month (1,820 migrants). All migrants (100%) left from Bari Region in Somalia.

Among the total migrants recorded, 26 per cent were children, 22 per cent were women, and 52 per cent were men.

Typically, Lahj serves as an entry point for migrants departing through Djibouti whereas Shabwah serves as an entry point for migrants departing through Somalia. During this reporting period, all recorded departed from Somalia to the coastal area of Shabwah Governorate. During the same period, no migrants departing from Djibouti to Lahj were tracked by IOM, likely due to measures taken by the government to combat smuggling. Since those measures were implemented, starting August 2023, the flow of migrants along this route has been nearly absent in the months that followed, with one exception in December 2023 when a boat brought 110 migrants to shore.

As of July 2024, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria were hosting an estimated 6,068,685 affected individuals made up of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees (former IDPs and returnees from abroad) and refugees (both in- and out-of-camp). Thirteen per cent of the affected population (777,656  individuals) were located in Cameroon, while 5 per cent resided in Chad (295,742 individuals), 9 per cent in Niger (558,416 individuals) and finally, 74 per cent in Nigeria (4,436,871 individuals). Overall, the numbers show a sharp increase in returnees from abroad (+45%) and sight decreases in IDPs (-1%), returnees former IDPs (-5%) and refugees (-1%) since December 2023.

As of July 2024, 3,141,928 individuals have been displaced, including 2,616,570 internally displaced persons (83% of the displaced population) and 525,358 refugees (17% of the displaced population). Sixty-seven per cent of the displaced populations (2,101,591 individuals) were located in Burkina Faso, while 14 per cent resided in Mali (424,318 individuals), 11 per cent in Niger (351,560 individuals) and 4 per cent in Mauritania (133,086 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 July, 131,373 individuals were affected by displacement within the four countries (22,613 in Benin, 55,005 in Côte d’Ivoire, 7,230 in Ghana and 46,525 in Togo) of which 34,088 were internally displaced.

As of July 2024, 4,026,470 individuals were affected, including 453,301 internally displaced persons (11% of the displaced population), 2,256,970 returnees former IDPs (56%), 531,919 returnees from abroad (13%) and 784,280 refugees (20%). In the CAR, the largest displaced population consists of former IDP returnees. Refugees from the CAR are primarily hosted by Cameroon (346,061 individuals, or 47% of the refugees), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (210,483 individuals, or 28% of the refugees) and Chad (137,405 individuals, or 19% of the refugees). Nonetheless, 11,008 refugees from the Central African Republic are still living in Sudan (2% of the refugees). The country is also home for refugees from neighbouring countries, hosting a total of 42,633 refugees coming from Sudan (28,659 individuals), the DRC (6,448 individuals), Chad (4,701 individuals) and South Soudan (2,825 individuals).

On 3 May 2023, the Upper Nile State government in collaboration with a task force sub-committee established the Malakal Transit Centre (TC) to coordinate the movements of individuals arriving from Renk due to the conict in Sudan. The TC aims to provide Onward Transportation Assistance (OTA) to individuals who intend to move to other areas within South Sudan. On 10 August 2024, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) in collaboration with UNHCR, DRC, and HDC onducted a rapid intention survey at Malakal TC aimed at tracking population dynamics and displacement patterns in the center, to better inform humanitarian response and improve on the Onward Transportation Assistance (OTA) operations. According to the headcount conducted on August 10, 2024, the TC hosts 1,498 individuals (1,474 South Sudanese returnees, 19 Sudanese nationals, and 5 other nationals), showing a decrease of 1,521 individuals compared to April 2024.

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, Belet Xaawo, Dayniile, Doolow, Gaalkacyo, Garoowe, 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.

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.

Nearly 3,000 individuals have been displaced in Alkufra and Rabiana (southeastern Libya) after heavy rains caused flooding and a power outage on 11 August 2024. According to field reports, around 600 individuals, including 50 Sudanese families, are sheltered in four schools, one guesthouse and one health centre in Alkufra and Rabiana (around 120 km west of Alkufra). Others have recently left the schools where they were taking refuge because of poor access to water and sanitation due to overcrowding.

The EU-funded Individual Measure 3 (IM3) project "Sustainable support to persons displaced by conflict and natural disasters and their host communities in Afar, Amhara, Benishangul Gumz and Tigray” aims to sustainably enhance the protection and response to basic needs, for forcibly displaced persons and host communities in Ethiopia, with an emphasis on areas affected by natural and man-made disasters.

As a cross-cutting component of the IM3 project, IOM’s Data and Research Unit (DRU) carried out a Household Level Survey (HLS) with Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) households, returning IDP households and non-displaced resident households in Central, Eastern and North Western zones of Tigray region. The multisectoral household survey indicators are in line with global cluster standards, as well as frameworks to measure progress towards durable solutions.

KEY FINDINGS: 

• The most reported need across all target groups was food, which was reported by 92.4% of IDP households, 87.2% of returning IDP households and 88.4% of non-displaced resident households. 

• The most reported barriers finding employment were financial constraints or lack of access to capital (73.1%) and limited job opportunities in the field of work (59.4%). 

• Overall, 96.6% of household members (≥15yrs) had not participated in a TVET. 

• Notably, 93.3% of households reported they had not received any support related to their income generating activity or livelihood project. 

• High prices in markets was the most reported barrier accessing markets (96.8%).

• Across the three target groups, the most reported main sanitation facility (latrines/toilets) was open defecation (53.8%).

• The most reported WaSH challenges for female dominated households were limited/no dignity kits (69.7%), limited/no soap for personal hygiene and handwashing (66.5%) and insufficient water storage containers at the household level (32.1%). 

• The most reported persons to seek support from in the community were kebele government representatives (67.2%), community leaders (58.8%) and village elders (45.4%). 

On 06 August 2024, heavy rainfall caused significant damage in several camps within the Dikwa and Kala/Balge local government areas (LGAs) of Borno State, including Fulatari, Ajari/Bulamari and Klaguru camps. The intense rainfall led to the destruction and damage of shelters and personal belongings of many displaced households. In total, 243 shelters were damaged, affecting 2,862 individuals across 600 households. The affected population included 777 women, 553 men, and 1,532 children.
Of all the needs identified, shelter, non-food items (NFIs), and food were the most prevalent need in the locations affected.

DTM Sudan regularly releases Early Warning Flash Alerts to report on specific incidents that triggered or may trigger sudden displacement across Sudan, including armed clashes, inter/intra communal conflicts, and natural hazards, including fires and floods.

This report represents a bi-monthly analysis of incidents reported by Early Warning Flash Alerts released between June and July 2024, providing insights into displacement dynamics across Sudan.  

Highlights:  

• Between 01 June– 31 July 2024, DTM Sudan reported on 55 incidents triggering displacement across locations in multiple states.

• Thirty-seven alerts were related to armed clashes, attacks, or inter-communal clashes, while 18 incidents were related to natural hazards. 

• Since the outbreak of conflict on 15 April 2023, the months with the most reported flash alerts were May 2024 (34), December 2023 (30), June 2024 (28), and July 2024 (27). The states with the most reported incidents were in North Darfur (79), South Kordofan (45) and South Darfur (35) states. 

Note: DTM Sudan Early Warning Flash Alerts are distributed via the DTM Sudan mailing list.  Figures should be understood as preliminary findings only, pending further verification. Flash alerts report incidents of sudden displacement, and therefore may or may not be indicative of broader displacement dynamics. For further information on displacement and mobility across Sudan, see Sudan Mobility Update (5).