Indian Ocean Island States validate key findings on mixed movements along the Western Indian Ocean Route

Pretoria, South Africa - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with the Mixed Migration Center (MMC), Danish Refugee Council, hosted a workshop bringing together regional stakeholders to discuss and validate research findings on mixed movement dynamics along the Western Indian Ocean Route. Participants included representatives from the governments of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania, civil society, multilateral organizations, donor agencies and academia.

The workshop, held on 5 December, built on the outcomes of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and UNHCR High-Level Dialogue on Addressing Mixed Migration through the Routes-Based Approach, held on 3-4 December. The event provided a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussions on migration trends, associated risks and the assistance required.

The research findings provide key insights into the profiles of migrants, their motivations for movement and the routes they take, highlighting the complex dynamics of mixed movements, including interactions with smugglers and the risks involved. Government representatives stressed the need for targeted and coordinated action to mitigate these risks and improve migrants' access to assistance and protection.

All stakeholders agreed on the need to address significant evidence gaps, particularly in under-researched areas such as Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte and Tanzania to address humanitarian and policy gaps. This will enable a more comprehensive understanding of and response to mixed movement dynamics.

The need to strengthen regional cooperation through multilateral platforms such as the Indian Ocean Commission and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was identified as a mechanism to improve coordination and information sharing. In addition, there was a call for evidence-based, inclusive policies and expanded programming to effectively address the protection and assistance needs of migrants across the region. It was also recommended that increased resource allocation and enhanced regional and cross-border cooperation be prioritized to improve policy responses and address humanitarian needs along the Western Indian Ocean route.

The research findings will be published in a report that will be available on the official websites of UNHCR and the Mixed Migration Center (MMC).

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For more information, please contact:

Tapiwa Shana Nkhoma, External Relations Officer [email protected]

Tendani Sibuyi, Senior External Relations Associate [email protected]