MAURITANIA this month appealed for international help to stem a tide of African migrants trying to leave its shores for Europe.
Scores of illegal immigrants try to reach the Spanish Canary Islands every day from Mauritania. Many drown in the attempt.Some key facts on immigration from Africa: WHY DO PEOPLE LEAVE? * Africa’s population is rising sharply and economic growth has not kept pace.From a population of 221 million in 1950, there are now around 800 million, or 13,5 per cent of the total world population.* In 2001, around 46 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s people lived on less than a dollar a day.Africa is also grappling with environmental degradation, diseases like HIV-AIDS, conflict and famine.In sub-Saharan Africa, 44 per cent of the population is aged under 15.HOW DO PEOPLE LEAVE? * The most common routes are from Niger through Libya to Tunisia, or from Niger through Algeria to the North African Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, or from Senegal through the Western Sahara to Morocco, or from Mauritania or Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands.* Spain and Italy are the easiest entry points, particularly the Canary Islands and Italy’s Lampedusa.HOW MANY? * It is difficult to measure the extent but the problem appears to be growing.The co-ordinated attempts to enter Ceuta and Melilla last year indicate mounting pressure on Morocco and Europe.At least 11 migrants were killed trying to storm the razor-wire fence around the outposts last October.* Officials estimate that 10 000-15 000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are in or around the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou waiting to earn enough to pay for a clandestine passage to Spain.* The Red Cross estimated this month that more than 1 000 African migrants had died since the start of this year trying to break into ‘Fortress Europe’ by ever longer sea routes.* Eurostat, the EU statistics office, has said the EU population rose by 2,3 million in 2004, 1,9 million of these were immigrants.WHAT IS BEING DONE? * Morocco and other North African states have said sub-Saharan Africa needs development aid to create jobs.* The EU says it aims to strike a series of agreements with North African nations to stem immigration, including offering financial support to Libya, a key jumping-off point.* An EU official said last month the bloc hoped to finalise, possibly by spring, a so-called readmission accord with Morocco, allowing Europe to send back not only illegal Moroccan immigrants but also others who use Morocco as a bridge.* In 2004, the Netherlands approved plans to expel failed asylum seekers as part of tougher measures it has introduced in response to mounting public concern about immigration since the 2002 murder of populist politician Pim Fortuyn.- Nampa-ReutersMany drown in the attempt.Some key facts on immigration from Africa: WHY DO PEOPLE LEAVE? * Africa’s population is rising sharply and economic growth has not kept pace.From a population of 221 million in 1950, there are now around 800 million, or 13,5 per cent of the total world population.* In 2001, around 46 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s people lived on less than a dollar a day.Africa is also grappling with environmental degradation, diseases like HIV-AIDS, conflict and famine.In sub-Saharan Africa, 44 per cent of the population is aged under 15.HOW DO PEOPLE LEAVE? * The most common routes are from Niger through Libya to Tunisia, or from Niger through Algeria to the North African Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, or from Senegal through the Western Sahara to Morocco, or from Mauritania or Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands.* Spain and Italy are the easiest entry points, particularly the Canary Islands and Italy’s Lampedusa.HOW MANY? * It is difficult to measure the extent but the problem appears to be growing.The co-ordinated attempts to enter Ceuta and Melilla last year indicate mounting pressure on Morocco and Europe.At least 11 migrants were killed trying to storm the razor-wire fence around the outposts last October.* Officials estimate that 10 000-15 000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are in or around the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou waiting to earn enough to pay for a clandestine passage to Spain.* The Red Cross estimated this month that more than 1 000 African migrants had died since the start of this year trying to break into ‘Fortress Europe’ by ever longer sea routes.* Eurostat, the EU statistics office, has said the EU population rose by 2,3 million in 2004, 1,9 million of these were immigrants.WHAT IS BEING DONE? * Morocco and other North African states have said sub-Saharan Africa needs development aid to create jobs.* The EU says it aims to strike a series of agreements with North African nations to stem immigration, including offering financial support to Libya, a key jumping-off point.* An EU official said last month the bloc hoped to finalise, possibly by spring, a so-called readmission accord with Morocco, allowing Europe to send back not only illegal Moroccan immigrants but also others who use Morocco as a bridge.* In 2004, the Netherlands approved plans to expel failed asylum seekers as part of tougher measures it has introduced in response to mounting public concern about immigration since the 2002 murder of populist politician Pim Fortuyn.- Nampa-Reuters
