The core countries of focus for this region are Iran, Palestine, Syria, Türkiye (Southwest Asia), Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan (South Asia), Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand (Southeast Asia), Australia, and New Zealand (Oceania). Depending on the quarterly trends and migration-related updates, more attention may be given to any of the countries over the rest.
EU greenlights negotiations with Taliban on returns: As part of its ambition to undertake deportations of Afghans, the EU has invited the Taliban to Brussels with the aim of developing closer cooperation around returns, sparking criticism from numerous human rights groups. In particular, Germany deported dozens of Afghan nationals during the quarter.
According to the BBC, Afghans have been subjected to extreme violence by Turkish border guards: Survivors from a group of around 50 Afghans testified that they had been beaten and stripped naked at the Iran-Türkiye border in January, with 20 reportedly dying as a result and many others losing limbs to frostbite.
More hardship for Rohingya refugees in the face of funding cuts: At $710.5 million, the 2026 annual appeal for humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh is 26% lower than the requested total the previous year, in response to the increasing restricted funding landscape.
Trafficking victims stranded in Cambodia in wake of scam crackdown: Following a crackdown against cybercrime networks, thousands of trafficking victims working in these scam centres have been left without assistance in Phnom Penh and at risk of re-trafficking.
The QMMUs offer an update on new mixed migration trends and relevant policy developments in the region. These updates are based on a compilation of a wide range of secondary (data) sources, brought together within a regional framework and applying a mixed migration analytical lens. Similar QMMUs are available for all MMC regions.
Interested in other Quarterly Updates?
Explore mixed migration trends and policy developments compiled through diverse secondary sources.
