The new migration Flow of Venezuelans is one of the most dynamic in the Americas. In 2018, IOM estimates that there are around 2.3 million Venezuelans living abroad and that about 90% of them are in countries of South America. More than 1.6 million of these people abandoned Venezuela since 2015.

These figures demonstrate the need of collecting, exchanging and validating statistical information about the needs and characteristics of the population, with the goal of identifying vulnerabilities and improve their protection.

IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) was designed precisely to record and monitor the movements of migrant and refugee population. This information is used for decision making and for the development of actions, plans and public policies based on transparent, safe and reliable information.

How DTM works?

This study provides primary information about the mobility at the national or global level and it is composed of four components:

  • Mobility tracking: tracks the cross-sector needs and the movements of the population to focalize help and humanitarian assistance in the communities of origin and displacement zones.
  • Monitoring of Fluxes: registers movements of displaced people in certain points, when migration occurs gradually.
  • Records individual and household information for the selection of beneficiaries, which prioritizes vulnerability indicators.
  • Survey:  gathers specific information through population sampling about issues such as intent to return, displacement solutions, and commmunity perceptions, among others. 

Supporting the Venezuelan population. In response to massive migration of Venezuelans, IOM launched this year the Regional Action Plan (RAP) that provides technical support and humanitarian assistance to countries receiving this population in the Americas and the Caribbean. As a result, DTM is implemented in 16 countries of the region, including Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

Nowadays, the information generated is being used to identify priority recipients of assistance and support, guaranteeing access to basic services in context of high demand. In addition, the system send alarms about needs of protection, food shortages, sanitary problems and diseases to coordinate with relevant authorities.

Likewise, the matrix is promoting prevention of human trafficking and other risks related to irregular migration by detecting vulnerable cases with the purpose of facilitating precise and relevant information that protects the Venezuelan population.

In this manner, States and stakeholders can know and jointly address the regional challenges for the attention and integration of Venezuelan migrants and the development of sustainable solutions.

Every report generated by DTM will be public and other specialized reports will be shared with governmental, academic and civil society actors in charge of providing services to migrants to enrich their intervention in favor of Venezuelan migrants.

This activity was funded by the The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, by the U.S Department of State.