Quarterly Mixed Migration Updates, Quarter 4 – 2023 (September-December)
This article presents the key updates on mixed migration from six regions around the world during the fourth quarter of 2023. Links to the full Quarterly Mixed Migration Updates (QMMU) per region are included below.
Asia and the Pacific | Eastern and Southern Africa | Europe| Latin America and the Caribbean | North Africa | West Africa
Asia and the Pacific
Key Updates Quarter 4 – 2023
- Increased displacement amid renewed armed clashes in Myanmar: Operation 1027, a series of coordinated offensives launched by a coalition of ethnic-based armies and pro-democracy fighters in Myanmar’s north has, according to some experts, tipped the trajectory of the conflict in favour of the resistance. The fighting resulted in the internal displacement of 660,000 individuals as of December 15, along with the displacement of 5,000 individuals to China.
- Human trafficking issues connected to cyber scam industry in Southeast Asia: Despite increasing efforts to address the issue, including China’s recent crackdown, rescue operations by Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, and a coordinated sanction by the UK, US, and Canada, gaps remain in ensuring the adequate protection of victims of human trafficking.
- Deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan amid a surge in returns from Pakistan and Iran: The surge in returns in response to crackdowns in Iran and Pakistan has significantly heightened humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.
- Ongoing debate on immigration detention policies in Australia: While human rights groups celebrated the landmark ruling on unlawful indefinite immigration detention, another subsequent preventative detention law, allowing re-detention of those released, continues to fuel the debate on immigration detention policies in Australia.
- Malaysian authorities intensify crackdowns on undocumented migrants: 1,101 undocumented migrants were arrested in the recent raids in Kuala Lumpur in late December, with plans announced for more raids targeting settlements where undocumented migrants live throughout the country.
Thematic Focus: A shifting tide in Indonesia: international, regional, and federal support essential for sustainable community-driven responses
Read the full QMMU
Eastern and Southern Africa | Egypt & Yemen
Key Updates Quarter 4 – 2023
- Ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to fuel internal displacement, cross-border displacement and forced immobility: compared to the previous quarter, cross-border movements have increased by 65% in South Sudan (463,660), 39% in the Central African Republic (CAR) (25,835), 28% in Chad (616,051), 26% in Libya (5,182), 23% in Ethiopia (101,385), and 6% in Egypt (343,230).
- Decrease in arrivals in Yemen: from October-December, 4,313 refugees and migrants entered Yemen, marking a 72% decrease from Q3. However, arrivals to Yemen in 2023 overall increased by 36% compared to 2022.
- Continued Egyptian and East African arrivals along the Central Mediterranean Route: compared to the last quarter, the arrivals of Egyptians to Italy increased by 12%, while the arrivals of Sudanese decreased by 6%.
- Tanzania, Burundi and UNHCR representatives met to outline a roadmap for the return of Burundian refugees from Tanzania. At the same time, in November, foreign policy experts raised the alarm that up to 100,000 Burundians could be forcefully returned to Burundi ‘‘under the guise of voluntary expatriation’’.
- British Supreme Court rejects UK-Rwanda migrant deal: in November, the UK’s highest court rejected the government’s attempt to deport asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda as the five judges unanimously identified a genuine risk of individuals being sent back to their countries of origin, where they would face persecution.
- Ethiopians and Eritreans intercepted along the Southern Route: in Q4, in Kenya, 49 Ethiopians and 63 Eritreans were apprehended while en route to South Africa. In Malawi, two groups of 16 and 46 Ethiopians were intercepted. A further 10 Ethiopians were stopped in Mozambique, and 13 Ethiopians in Zimbabwe.
- South Africa may withdraw from UN Refugee Convention: in November, South Africa announced it seeks to withdraw from the UN Refugee Convention while it is working on an overhaul of its immigration policy framework.
Thematic Focus: Displacement caused by severe floods in the Horn of Africa
Read the full QMMU
Europe
Key Updates Quarter 4 – 2023
- Greece regularises 30,000 undocumented migrants: On 19 December, a resolution to regularise the status of 30,000 undocumented migrants was passed by the Greek parliament. Despite being criticised by right-wing politicians, the government justified it as a necessary step to address the country’s acute labour shortages.
- A “chain reaction” of border closures to contain migration: Despite a reduction in movement through the Western Balkans in 2023, the continued popularity of the route prompted multiple states including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia to impose or extend border restrictions with neighbouring states to curb irregular migration during the final quarter of 2023.
- Tensions at the borders between Finland and Russia: In November and again in December, Finland imposed closures at its land borders following the arrival of large numbers of asylum seekers that it claimed Russia had orchestrated as a form of “hybrid warfare”. Estonia threatened to follow suit in response to similar incidents allegedly taking place at its border with Russia.
- The UK’s “Rwanda policy” is passed in parliament: despite multiple legal challenges, including a ruling by the Supreme Court on 15 November, the government published a revised version of the legislation that was passed with a majority of 44 votes on 12 December. However, the bill may be subject to further amendments in January ahead of its formal ratification due to pressure from the party’s more right-wing faction.
- Shock victory for far-right in the Netherlands: National elections in the Netherlands in November saw the far-right Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders become the largest single party in the country with 37 of the 150 parliamentary seats. While it is still unclear who will be leading the next government, it seems likely that the next government will introduce a more exclusionary approach to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
- Italy and Albania partner on migration: In early November, Italy and Albania announced a surprise agreement between the two countries for Italy to process up to 36,000 asylum applications in Albania every year. Albania’s Constitutional Court subsequently blocked ratification of the agreement, with a public hearing scheduled for 18 January to review its legality.
- France passes tough legislation on immigration: A new flagship immigration bill was rejected on 11 December in the lower-house National Assembly after opposition groups refused to even debate it in the chamber. A revised version of the text, incorporating more restrictive policies in an attempt to ensure the support of far-right MP, was passed on 19 December.
Thematic Focus: The New Pact on Asylum and Migration
Read the full QMMU
Latin America and the Caribbean
Key Updates Quarter 4 – 2023
- Movements from Venezuela continue: Venezuelans continued to leave their homeland in the 4th quarter of 2023. According to R4V, the number of Venezuelans who had left the country by the end of November 2023 was 7,722,579 – 11,692 more than the total recorded at the end of August, 3 months earlier.
- New migrant caravans: A relatively small part of a record-breaking rise in northward movements this quarter saw the establishment of at least two new migrant caravans moving through Mexico towards the US border. One that started at the end of October from Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala with approximately 5,000 migrants and asylum seekers rapidly attracted an additional 2,000 more, while the second departed on 24 December 2023, numbering between 4,000 and 7,000, but disintegrated soon after starting.
- Darien Gap crossings surge continues: According to UNHCR, this quarter’s crossings of the Darien Gap have contributed to a record annual total. In 2023, a reported 520,085 people made the notorious journey with almost 111,113 crossing in this 4th In the whole year, 81% were from South America, 9% from the Caribbean Islands, 8% from Asia and 2% from Africa.
- Nicaragua’s ‘weaponizing’ of US-bound migrants: During this quarter, further reports emerged, highlighting Nicaragua’s involvement in facilitating the movement of migrants heading northward, through the country.
- Ecuadorians on the move: US border authorities apprehended over 116,229 Ecuadorians at the US southern border in fiscal year 2023 as they entered the US irregularly, representing a sharp rise of 383% from fiscal year 2022 and an annual record.
- Record numbers of attempts to enter the US from Mexico: This quarter saw some of the highest levels of attempted US crossings and ‘encounters’, with December as the all-time high. CBP counted total encounters along the southwest border in October and November of around 240,000 each month, but in December the total was over 300,000. These numbers led to urgent US/Mexican diplomatic negotiations.
Thematic Focus: Organised criminal exploitation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants
Read the full QMMU
North Africa
Key Updates Quarter 4 – 2023
- Libya and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate labour migration procedures on 25 October: The agreement aims to streamline the legal procedures, facilitate the regular entry, and ensure the repatriation of Bangladeshi migrants in Libya. The MoU reflects Libya’s potentially new approach, under the Government of National Unity, to formally integrate some categories of migrants into the domestic economy.
- A collaborative investigation reveals a concerning collaboration between European authorities and the Tareq Bin Zayed (TBZ) armed group in Libya: European authorities allegedly share GPS coordinates of distressed boats with TBZ, leading to forced returns of boats carrying refugees and migrants to Libya. Refugees and migrants intercepted and detained by TBZ report experiencing abuse, including torture, forced labour, and ransom payments.
- Continued expulsions from Tunisia to the Algerian and Libyan borders: The World Organisation Against Torture (Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture – OMCT) reported a surge in arbitrary arrests and expulsions from July to October. At least 8,500 refugees and migrants have been forcibly taken to the borders with Libya and Algeria. According to the report, these operations were conducted with violence that could constitute “acts of torture and mistreatment.”
- Clashes erupted in November between Tunisian authorities and Sub-Saharan African refugees and migrants in Sfax, Tunisia: The clashes erupted when National Guard agents attempted to destroy makeshift boats used by refugees and migrants to reach Europe, prompting a violent confrontation.
- During a visit to Rabat, the German Interior Minister agreed to enhance readmission cooperation with Morocco: Morocco has agreed to repatriate its citizens denied permission to stay in Germany, as outlined in a declaration of intent signed by both Interior Ministers. However, a comprehensive EU-wide readmission agreement with Morocco remains elusive.
- French National Assembly rejected a resolution aimed at terminating the 1968 agreement between France and Algeria: on the movement, employment, and residence of Algerian nationals and their families. The agreement, criticized for granting privileges to Algerian nationals, had sparked contentious The rejection comes after heightened discussions in the second quarter of 2023.
Thematic Focus: Exploring the unique migration context of Sousse, a city of welcome and transit
Read the full QMMU
West Africa
Key Updates Quarter 4 – 2023
- Regional displacement on the rise in 2023: As of 31 December, there were more than 5 million people of concern in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania) according to UNHCR, compared to 4.1 million people in 2022 and 3.6 million people in 2021.
- Northbound migration increases as Niger’s military government abrogates law 2015-36: Following a coup in July 2023, Niger’s new military government announced, on 25 November, the abrogation of the disputed Law 2015-36 which criminalized the ‘illegal smuggling of migrants’ in Niger. Northbound migration through Niger has been picking up since the abrogation of the law.
- Canary Island arrivals surge: In the fourth quarter some 25,125 refugees and migrants arrived in the Canary Islands via the Atlantic Route. This compares to 3,163 arrivals during the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 694%. In total, UNHCR recorded 40,330 total arrivals in 2023 on the Canary Islands as of 31 December, which represents an increase of 157% over 2022.
- New route for West Africans to the Americas via Nicaragua: As a new version of the West Africa to Latin America route has recently flourished, with migrants flying to Nicaragua before continuing overland, the number of refugees and migrants from African countries caught irregularly entering the United States at its southern border increased more than fourfold from 13,406 in 2022 to 58,462 in 2023. People from Mauritania (15,263) and Senegal (13,526) alone accounted for almost 50% of this total, and Guineans were the fourth most represented nationality at more than 4,000 arrivals.
- Continuing expulsions from Algeria to Niger and Mali: According to estimates made by the NGO Alarmephone Sahara, as of mid-October at least 24,689 refugees and migrants had been expelled from Algeria to Niger in 2023, and the reception conditions for stranded migrants in northern Niger remained very challenging. The quarter also saw expulsions of migrants and refugees from Algeria to Mali.