To provide migrants with protection and reinforce government capacities to respond to mixed migration challenges, IOM has been supporting the establishment of Migration Response Centres (MRCs) since 2009. Situated in strategic locations along the main migration routes, in particular the Eastern Route, MRCs facilitate the identification of migrants in vulnerable situations and ensure that they receive appropriate, immediate and short-term support, including direct assistance (shelter, counselling support, medical care, assisted voluntary return, etc.) and referrals to government entities and service providers. Eight MRCs were operational in 2022 in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Data is collected upon registration using the MRC Information System (MRCIS), a custom-built software developed by the RDH in 2020 to digitalize and harmonize data across MRCs. MRCIS provides the following functionalities: registration, screening and consent recording; case management; issuance of beneficiary cards and certificates; service management (food and non-food items, counselling, medical screenings, etc.); basic inventory management; and automatic reporting and data-sharing with designated recipients.