Mixed Migration in
the Asia-Pacific Region
Presentation by UNHCR
Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons
and Related Transnational Crime
Workshop on Regional Protection, Resettlement and Repatriation
Bali, Indonesia; 7-8 June 2010
Overview
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Mixed movements and triggers
Key statistics in the region
Key movements
Protection environment
Factors affecting irregular
movements
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Protection and migration in the Asia-Pacific
People move for a web of reasons
Economic based, including labour migration
Protection-driven movements triggered by
human rights violations, armed conflict, serious
disturbances of public order
Protection-based social factors
(family reunification and education)
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People on the Move subjected to Smugglers
and Traffickers
Economic Migrants, Refugees and AsylumSeekers:
– Travel in same directions
– Use same routes and means of transport
– Face same risks on route
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Main Source Countries* in the Region
(Estimated number of persons)
2,786,000
Afghanistan
1,555,000
Iraq
421,000
Myanm ar
123,000
China
Bhutan
90,000
Sri Lanka
80,000
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500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000
*Source: 2009 Annual Statistical Report for UNHCR’s geographical Asia-Pacific Region. Figures
rounded to the nearest thousand.
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Main Host Countries* in the Region
(Estimated number of persons)
Pakistan
1,742,000
Islamic Republic of Iran
1,072,000
Syria
1,058,000
Jordan
451,000
Bangladesh
229,000
India
191,000
Thailand
116,000
Nepal
109,000
Malaysia
Australia
76,000
25,000
*Source: 2009 Annual Statistical Report for UNHCR’s geographical Asia-Pacific Region.
Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
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Change in Newly registered asylum-seekers*
from 2009 to 2010 for key countries in the Region
Country of
Asylum
Change in
Number
Percentage
Change
1Jan-31Mar09
1Jan-31Mar10
1,259
2,444**
+ 1,185
+ 94%
India
847
1,362
+ 515
+ 61%
Indonesia
498
968
+ 470
+ 94%
Malaysia
4,439
14,168
+ 9,729
+ 219%
Thailand
390
557
+ 167
+ 43%
7,433
19,499
+12,066
+162%
Australia
Total
* Source: 1st Quarterly Statistical Reports 2010. For Australia, figures are reported by UNHCR Canberra.
** Newly registered asylum-seekers in Australia is the total number of protection visa applications, comprising
all “onshore arrivals” (Australian mainland) during first quarter 2010, and a number of “offshore arrivals”
(Christmas Island) who became eligible to apply for a protection visa in first quarter 2010.
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Resettlement Figures (Total 2009)
Malaysia
Nepal
Thailand
Others in
Asia & the
Pacific
Total
Asia & the
Pacific
World
Submitted
10,228
22,139
19,879
3,215
55,461
128,558
Departed
7,509
17,442
16,835
2,546
44,332
84,657
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Key Movements in the Region
LEGEND
CoO: Afghanistan
Return to Afghanistan
CoO: Iraq
CoO: Myanmar
CoO: Sri Lanka
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Some factors affecting movements
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Armed conflict
Human insecurity
Demand for foreign labour
People smuggling rings
Disparate standards of protection
Access to solutions
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Protection Environment in the Region
Lack of legal and social framework
to protect refugees and asylumseekers:
– Accession rate to Refugee
Convention low
– Processing arrangements
– Use of detention to curb
irregular migration
– Few national asylum systems
in place
– Low standard of treatment and
poor access to basic services
and employment
– Few available solutions
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