New Article
Migrant workers, climate, and constraint
Behind the scenes of Saudi Arabia’s labour engine
Read the ArticleNew Paper
Protection and assistance for Afghans in mixed migration
Insights from 4Mi data on Afghans en route to Pakistan and Türkiye
Read the PaperAbout MMC’s work in Asia and the Pacific
Mixed Migration in Asia and the Pacific
Asia is characterized by fast evolving and complex population movements, including the large-scale and often irregular movement of migrants. Across the region, weak legal protection frameworks result in migrants often being categorized as “irregular” or “illegal” migrants, subjecting them to measures including arrest, detention and deportation as well as increasing their risk of exploitation. Throughout the region many take great risks to escape life-threatening situations, such as conflicts, violence, discrimination or natural disasters, embarking on perilous journeys by land or sea. Others, motivated in search of better opportunities, migrate to work in often dangerous, dirty and demeaning (3D) jobs, exposing them to risks such as exploitation and trafficking. Regardless of their motivations for migration, people moving in mixed migration across Asia travel along similar routes and engage similar means, often travelling irregularly with the assistance of smugglers.
Quarterly Regional Updates
In the second quarter of 2025, MMC Asia and the Pacific concluded the third phase of the Protecting Refugees in Asia project, which included data collection in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia on the migration experiences of migrants and refugees, and research and advocacy capacity building of 7 refugee-led organisations in Malaysia and Indonesia. We published two reports, Smuggling dynamics en route to and within Turkiye, and Protection and assistance for Afghans in mixed migration. We also shared findings from our research on human smuggling at the Bali Process Regional Support Office’s regional meeting on countering people smuggling and transnational crime, in May, and the Bali Process Working Group on the Disruption of criminal networks involved in People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons’ regional meeting in June

- Insights on Afghans en route to Pakistan and Türkiye
- Paper

- Insights from Afghans, Syrians & Pakistanis on their journeys
- Research report


- Asia and the Pacific, Quarter 2, 2025
- Quarterly Mixed Migration Update

- Asia and the Pacific, Quarter 1, 2025
- Quarterly Mixed Migration Update

- Asia and the Pacific, Quarter 4, 2024
- Quarterly Mixed Migration Update