Iran: Escalation in the Middle East and Beyond - Mobility Report (05 - 11 May 2026)

Countries: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye, Turkmenistan Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. OVERVIEW Now in its tenth week, the escalation of hostilities across the Middle East and beyond continue to trigger a humanitarian crisis spanning multiple regions in an already fragile context, with significant impact to population mobility. National social systems and host community safety networks are under considerable strain as protection needs continue to rise. The temporary cessation of hostilities remains fragile and subject to change, requiring continued monitoring and operational readiness while the humanitarian consequences of earlier hostilities continue to affect populations across multiple regions. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, widespread destruction of more than 149,0001 civilian infrastructures and essential services, including hospitals, schools and emergency facilities, continues to reduce basic living conditions. As of 29 April 2026 an estimated 400,000 people have seen their homes directly affected by housing damages. Mobility patterns are being shaped by housing damage, livelihood loss, and service disruptions, leading to temporary internal relocation, reliance on family networks, and increased labour‐related movement. While no large‐scale cross‐border displacement has been observed, the cumulative pressures are contributing to heightened interest in outward migration among vulnerable groups, including youth, migrants, and low‐income urban households. Overall, population movements remain localised, temporary, and economically driven, with no signs of mass displacement; however, ongoing strain on housing, livelihoods, and basic services is likely to sustain elevated mobility levels in the near- and medium-term. In Lebanon, the ceasefire has contributed to a partial stabilization of population movements, with an initial slowdown in large-scale displacement. However, mobility patterns remain fluid and the situation fragile. While hundreds of thousands of households have begun cautious and often temporary returns, they remain limited in several areas, including the South, Nabatieh, the southern suburbs of Beirut and parts of the Bekaa, due to ongoing insecurity and infrastructure damage. Concurrently, collective sites and host communities continue to face sustained pressure, with some previously displaced families returning to shelters after unsuccessful attempts to return home. Crossborder flows into the Syrian Arab Republic are continuing, reaching over 400,0002 movements since 02 March and placing additional pressure on an already overstretched humanitarian system. IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is on the ground, actively tracking displacement and crossborder mobility while scaling operations in coordination with local authorities and partners to better understand how the crisis is impacting human mobility in the region.
2026-05-15 01:33:17