Migration from Africa to Europe sub-Saharan Africa

Why so many Africans risk their lives to come to Europe African migrants favor Europe due to its geographical proximity and promise of safety and a better life. Population is growing to rapidly with a poor quality of life in some areas Failed sustainable livelihoods for the youth as there is a lack of jobs Social and economic deprivation Conflict and crime in many countries In comparison, life expectancy is 47 years in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to 80 years in the Eurozone

How the journey is possible In 80% of cases it is believed the journey is ‘facilitated’ by migrant smugglers or criminal groups They help provide services like transportation, fraudulent identification, corruption of border officials and settlement services Smugglers in transit companies work with other smuggler to act as guides, escorting migrants across the Sahara Desert towards the Mediterranean coastline SMUGGLERS' PRICES BY SEA: Africa to Canary Islands: 1,000-1,500 euros North Morocco to Spain: 1,000 euros Libya to Italy: 1,500-2,000 euros BY LAND: Sub-Sahara to Morocco: 1,000-2,000 euros Through Mali: 1,000 euros Across Sahara: 1,700-3,400 euros BY AIR/LAND/SEA: South Asia to Africa to Europe: 9,000-16,000 euros Source: UN

Key routes taken Three main smuggling routes: Western route, where the main source counties are Mali, The Gambia and Senegal. This route often connects in the Sahel with the central route Central route, with source counties such as Nigeria, Ghana and Niger Easter route, with sources from Somalia, Eritrea, and south Sudan. This cuts north through the Sudan and Egypt to the coast of Africa Most routes converge in the Maghreb, but in recent years they converge in Libya where they can cross the sea to Italy or Malta

Key routes taken

But not all migrants make it to the Eurozone An estimated only 10-15% of Africa migrants actually make it to Europe This is because many migrants become part of a circular migration where as they travel they look for work and opportunities Many find some work or better quality of life elsewhere and settle there for some time This in turn creates overpopulation, population imbalances and fragile economies in these locations across sub-Saharan Africa and north Africa Many migrants don’t make it across the Mediterranean. Many get onto the rickety boats to Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa but many do not survive. Since 2011 Italian authorities have recovered many hundreds of bodies and rescued thousands of people from the boats attempting the cross from Libya. It is thought thousands have drowned

What happens when they arrive? If migrants do manage to arrive in Italy or Malta, they don’t usually receive a warm welcoming Many are sent back to Africa Many EU states on the coastline have been forced to restructure and align their immigration and asylum policies and practices due to increasing pressure, the humanitarian crisis and increasing numbers of people trying to come in This has caused many migrants to find alternative routes to seek refuge that are potentially more dangerous

Immigrants in Europe The latest report on migration says African migration to developed countries is marginal in relation to overall flows. The majority of African migrants living overseas are in Europe - about 4.6m compared with 890,000 in the US, according to the International Organization for Migration. It is believed there are between seven and eight million irregular African immigrants living in the EU, the actual number changing depending on regularization schemes in the member states. About two-thirds of Africans in Europe are from north Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). An increasing number are travelling from Sub- Saharan Africa, mainly heading for the former colonial powers of France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Most Sub-Saharan migrants are from West Africa - Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal, in particular. About 22,016 people reached Italy by boat in 2006.

Immigrants in Europe

Immigrants in Europe

Spain crisis As the closest European country to the African continent, Spain is one of the first country that is accessed by illegal migration. From there, migrants often make their way to other European countries. Spain's enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in northern Morocco are initial targets for many migrants. Once detained they can be expelled, repatriated or sent to mainland Spain, where many are reported to be released, pending expulsion. The enclaves' authorities were forced to double the size of border fences around the coastal territories in 2005 when hundreds of migrants attempted to scale the defenses. For years, people have risked crossing the sea to get to mainland Spain, but in 2006 there was a closer focus on its islands - thousands headed for the Canary Islands in former African fishing boats, prompting an increase in joint "Frontex" patrol operations by Spain, the EU and African nations as tightening security at one departure point simply seems to shift it elsewhere.

Spain crisis

Remittances Having migrated, many migrants send money home to family they have left behind. Billions of dollars each year is sent back to Africa from the diaspora around the world - in some cases making up a sizeable chunk of the home country's GDP.