https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSV2EdCc90g
WHY PEOPLE MOVE
Lara Kelly, Congregation Justice Office, Dominican Sisters Cabra
People on the move – the global picture
Women migrants walk along a highway in Yemen en route to the border with Saudi Arabia. IOM, 2022.
People on the move – the global picture
The vast majority of people continue to live in the countries where they were born —only one in 30 are migrants.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that there were around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020, which equates to 3.6 percent of the global population.
The great majority of people do not migrate across borders; much larger numbers migrate within countries.
Some migration routes pose challenges, and journeys can sometimes have unsafe and even deadly outcomes. Between 2014 and 2023, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project recorded over 63,000 deaths and disappearances on migration routes.
Source: UN International Organisation for Migration
People on the move – Refugees
Source: UNHCR, 2024
Migration and Africa
Migration from and within Africa
According to a 2024 UN study, the number
of African migrants increased by 30%
between 2010 and 2020.
However, about 80% remain on the African
continent. The vast majority move to neighbouring countries or to regions that are experiencing rapid economic growth, such as West Africa or South Africa, to look for work there.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, only 8% of African migrants in the EU are refugees. And about nine out of 10 migrants travel to Europe legally: by plane, not aboard a smuggler's boat.
Migration from Africa
Motivations for Leaving Africa
Economic Hardship
- Poverty and Unemployment
- Income Inequality
Political Instability and Conflict
- Violence and Persecution
- Weak Governance
Migration from Africa
Motivations for Leaving Africa
Environmental Factors
- Climate Change
- Natural Disasters
Social and Demographic Pressures
- Family Reunification
- Education and Healthcare
- Historical and Cultural Ties
How migrants make the journey to Europe
Routes Taken
- Overland Pathways: Travelers often start their journey across land toward North Africa.
- Mediterranean Sea Crossings: The final leg frequently involves crossing the Mediterranean by boat, a route notorious for its peril.
How migrants make the journey To Europe
Means of Travel
- Smuggling Networks: Organized networks (often involving human traffickers) arrange clandestine passage, though at great risk and cost.
- Legal and Irregular Channels: While some migrants apply for visas or asylum, many rely on irregular channels due to bureaucratic hurdles and restrictive immigration policies.
Informal Support Systems
Dangers and Difficulties Along the Journey
Physical and Environmental Hazards
- Sea Crossings: Boats are often overcrowded, poorly maintained, and ill-equipped, leading to life-threatening conditions and high mortality rates.
- Harsh Terrain: Overland routes can involve traversing deserts or conflict zones, exposing travellers to extreme weather and scarcity of resources.
Exploitation and Abuse
- Human Trafficking: Migrants are vulnerable to exploitation, including forced labour, extortion, and abuse at the hands of smugglers.
- Detention and Border Enforcement: Encounters with law enforcement and detention in often overcrowded or under-resourced facilities add further stress.
Legal and Bureaucratic Obstacles
- Irregular Status: Without proper documentation, migrants face legal challenges, risking arrest and deportation upon arrival.
- Asylum Processing: Lengthy, uncertain, and often opaque asylum procedures can delay integration and expose migrants to further risks.
Psychological and Social Impact
- Trauma: The journey’s peril and experiences of violence, exploitation, and uncertainty can lead to long-term psychological stress.
- Loss of Community and Identity: The dislocation from familiar cultural and social environments can be disorienting.
Dangers and Difficulties Along the Journey
The Young Mother’s Network (YMN)
Migrant women healing and
finding a home in Ireland
Dominican Sisters Cabra migrant women’s group