Interregional Workshop on International Migration

1
African Migration to Europe, L/A Caribbean
Interregional Workshop on International Migration
Charles A. Kwenin 22-23 Sept. 2011, Geneva
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Global Outlook for Intl Migration

• Mega-Trends One billion people on the move at
  any one time (migrants) 215 mil. crossing intl
  borders and 740 mil. moving inside their own
  countries in search of a better life.
• In 2000, 300 mil. people were connected to the
  internet, Now 2 billion i.e. 1 in 7 persons on
  the globe in a migratory status and 1 in 3
  connected to the internet.
• Feminization More female migrants as heads of
  households
• Far more internal migrants (S-S) than Intl
  migrants (S-N), SSA Africa 69 (10 million out
  of 14.5 million Ratha and Shaw 2007)
• North Africa (and Middle East) 19 of
  migration within region 80 outward

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Migration Flows in Africa
Libya
Nigeria
Senegal
Cameroon
Migration flows in Africa
DRC
Côte dIvoire
Gabon
South Africa
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Main countries of destination and flows in West
Africa
Countries of origin Mauritania, Mali,
Guinea- Bissau, Guinea, Cap-Verde
Senegal
Countries of origin Senegal, Mauritania, Mali,
Guinea, Burkina-Faso, Ghana
Côte dIvoire
Countries of origin Ghana, Niger, Chad, Togo,
Benin
Nigeria
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Trends / Patterns - W/ African Migration

• A misconception - all migrants crossing the
  Sahara are in transit to Europe Est. about
  65,000-120,000 SSAns enter Maghreb yearly over
  land 20-38 are estimated to enter Europe. (e.g.
  Libya is an important destination in its own
  right) Many migrants stay in N/A as a Second best
  option
• Majority of W/Ans enter Europe legally. Recent
  total annual increase of registered W/Ans pop. in
  the EU is about 100,000 whilst total no. of
  successful irregular crossing is about
  25,000-35,000 per year (only a fraction of total
  EU immigration of about 2.6million in 2004)
• Despite recent increase, W/A migration to the EU
  is still relatively modest compared to migration
  from N/A and E. Europe. Estimated 800,000
  registered W/Ans migrants in the main European
  countries compared to 2,600,000 N. Africans.
  (Moroccans alone could outnumber all W/Ans in
  Europe)

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Migration Routes
WEST NORTH AFRICA

• Migrants regional, extra-regional
• Sudan cross roads for East Africans and
  extra-regional migrants - en route to Libya and
  Tunisian harbors
• Migrants from Gulf of Guinea Togo, Benin, Ghana
  and Nigeria, Cameroon) cross Mali and Niger
• North toward Niger and Mali, to Libya frontiers,
  or
• West through Morocco via Canary Islands and
  Andalusia to Spain and Europe.

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Trends / Patterns - W/ African Migration

• Migration is generally a conscious choice by
  relatively well-off individuals and households to
  enhance their livelihoods. Vast majority of
  migrants move on their own initiative
• Migration from W/A to the Maghreb and Europe is
  likely to continue increased border controls
  have rather led to the swift diversion of
  migration routes with increase in the risks,
  costs suffering of migrants

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Arrivals in Lampedusa
Other Nationalities Ghana, Eritrea, Somalia,
Sudan, Nigeria, B-F, Mali, Niger, CDI, Senegal,
Gambia, Congo,
Nationalities Tunisia
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Evacuation from Libya

• 309,000 TCNs fled Libya over past 7 months
• 46 Govts requested IOM support.
• 208,000 TCNs assisted by IOM/UNHCR/Partners via
  commercial charter flights, in-kind air assets,
  land and sea

10
West African returnees from Libya

• 221,500 SSA Returnees Assisted
• 200,000 West African Returnees

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EAST AFRICA
Migration Routes

• Mediterranean Sea Routes from the shores of
  Libya and Egypt to Malta, Italy (Lampedusa),
  Cyprus and Greece
• Gulf of Aden Route from Somalia to Yemen
  crossing the Gulf of Aden via Bossaso, Puntland.
• Red Sea Route via the Red Sea and the Suez
  Canal to Italy and Malta. Also through Djibouti
  to Yemen via Obock.
• Southern Africa Route through Kenya, Tanzania,
  Malawi and Mozambique with destination to South
  Africa (IOM est. 16-18,000 attempts annually
  Ethiopians Somalis)

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Major migratory routes relevant to Gulf of Aden
Region
Urban areas
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Mixed Migratory Flows in the HoA

• Every year thousands of migrants travel from the
  Horn of Africa (HoA) across the Gulf of Aden to
  Yemen and beyond. The no. of crossings /arrivals
  remain high estimated at 2000 pax. per week
  despite difficult conditions,
• Gulf of Eden Crossing Yemen Mixed Migration Task
  Force, Estimates 
• 2006 22,000
• 2007 30,000
• 2008 40, 000
• 2009 77,802
• 2010 43,000 (decrease due to tightened Security
  / patrols) C

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African Migration to L/A Caribbean

• GoTZ/IOM /UNHCR Regional Conference on Refugee
  Protection International Migration Mixed
  Movements and Irregular Migration from the East
  and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes Region to
  Southern Africa Tanzania, 6-7 Sept. 2010
• Ecuador lifted its visa request for most African
  and many Asian countries some three years ago,
  but steady introduction September 2010, after
  large flows of migrants from Nepal, Pakistan,
  Bangladesh and some African countries
• Ecuador is using two criteria a) Increase over 2
  3 consecutive months, the visa requirement is
  established b) Immigration officers - request
  proof of tourist conditions
• Both the Regional Conference on Migration (CRM,
  North/Central America) and the South American
  Conference on Migration analyzing the issue of
  extra-continental migration to LAC. IOM is
  carrying out a study in Argentina, Brazil,
  Colombia and Ecuador, to be ready by November
  2011.

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Advances Gaps in Instl Arrangements

• Continental / Regional / National Policies
  Programmes
• African Union MPFA, ACP on M D, Ouaga PoA,
  Joint EU-Africa Declaration on M D
• RECs COMESA, EAC, ECOWAS, ECCAS, IGAD, SADC
  (RMPFs Banjul Dec) / HeSADs
• EU-Africa Strategic Partnerships (Mobility,
  Migration Employment 7th Parternership)
  Rabat Tripoli Declaration
• Migration Data / Migration Profiles
• Migration Policies, Capacity Building / Training
  ACBC in Moshi
• Mixed Migration Task Force (MMTF) Yemen, Kenya
  etc (IOM,UNHCR, OCHA, DRC, etc) Joint Regional
  Mtgs IOM / HCR
• Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs

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Global RCP Landscape (2010)

• 15 major RCPs (all regions except Caribbean and
  Central Africa
• 142 States participate in RCPs

• RCPs facilitating info. exchange (data,
  policies, best practices)
• Enhance cooperation among States
• Promote inter-regional dialogue/exchange between
  RCPs
• IOMs Role observer, expert and/or technical
  secretariat

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Conclusion

• Migration is humanities oldest action against
  poverty the powerful manifestation of an
  individuals desire for development, dignity and
  a decent life even if it means doing the dirty,
  difficult and dangerous jobs -- jobs that
  domestic workforces often shun.
• Countries often pride themselves publicly on
  being a migrant society or a nation of
  migrants. Sadly, all too often, these are
  referrals to yesterdays migrants not to those
  arriving on our shores or on our borders today.
• Given the global demographic and labour market
  trends, widening North-South disparities, large
  scale migration is both INEVITABLE, UNAVOIDABLE
  !! and if well and humanely managed -- also
  DESIRABLE AND NECESSARY.

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Promote Safe Migration and Positive
Thank You