The International Organization for Migration's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has published a new mobility report covering the escalation in the Middle East and its effects beyond the region, with a monitoring window running from 28 July to 10 August 2026.

The report, released through IOM's DTM portal at dtm.iom.int, documents population movements during a two-week period in which hostilities escalated in the Middle East and produced mobility consequences in neighbouring countries and further afield. IOM's DTM programme tracks displacement, cross-border flows and internal movement to support humanitarian planning and response.

What is the Displacement Tracking Matrix?

DTM is IOM's principal system for monitoring mobility in crisis settings. It collects data on:

• the numbers and locations of displaced people;
• cross-border movements of refugees and returnees;
• conditions in transit locations and host communities;
• mobility disruptions caused by conflict, border closures and infrastructure damage.

IOM publishes these findings in periodic mobility reports, each tied to a defined reporting window — in this case, 28 July to 10 August 2026.

Which regions does the report cover?

According to its title, the report addresses two distinct but connected situations: the escalation in the Middle East itself, and mobility effects "and beyond" — meaning countries outside the immediate conflict zone that experienced movement pressures during the same two-week period.

Readers seeking country-level figures, such as arrival numbers, border-crossing counts or displaced-population totals, should consult the full dataset published on the official DTM portal. The portal hosts the complete report, including its methodology, data tables and maps.

Why does this matter for travellers and migrants?

Escalations of this kind routinely trigger border closures, flight cancellations, suspension of visa processing and tightened security screening across affected and neighbouring states. Mobility reports of this type serve as primary reference material for:

• governments adjusting asylum and reception arrangements;
• humanitarian agencies planning cross-border assistance;
• airlines and transport operators assessing route viability;
• migrants and refugees making decisions about movement during the crisis.

Passport File readers should treat the DTM publication as the authoritative record of what changed on the ground between 28 July and 10 August 2026, rather than relying on secondary summaries.

Where can the official data be found?

The report is available on IOM's DTM portal. Anyone needing precise figures from the reporting period — displacement totals, movement trends or country breakdowns — should retrieve the document directly from that portal, as it constitutes the official source of the change described here.

This article does not provide individual legal or travel advice. Readers affected by border measures or displacement during the reporting window should consult the relevant authorities, IOM country offices or licensed legal practitioners for guidance specific to their circumstances.

What happens next?

IOM typically continues DTM monitoring in recurring cycles after each reporting window closes. If escalation persists, further reports will follow, and Passport File will cover them as they are published. Readers monitoring the situation should check the DTM portal for subsequent editions covering periods after 10 August 2026.