Study shows 85% of African migrants leave their homes with little knowledge of potential risks

A recent study conducted by the North Africa Mixed Migration Hub shows that at least 85% of migrants from west and east Africa begin their journey to Europe without being fully aware of the risks and conditions of the journey.

The North Africa Migration Hub conducted 341 interviews between the beginning of March last year and December with migrants in 10 Italian cities. The findings show very little to no knowledge of the conditions of the journey before they leave the safety of their homes.

Migrants from West Africa had the lowest awareness levels about the migration journey, but women from east Africa, who are the most vulnerable group on the migration journey, also showed very low levels of awareness of the various dangers and risks that happen to women on the journey. More than 74% of women from countries like Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia said they left their homes and embarked on the migration journey without being fully aware of the risks and conditions on the migration route.

More than half of the respondents said they felt regret about their journey due to conditions they encountered on their way, while 45% said they would not have travelled at all if they had clearly known about the conditions they would encounter. Only 12% said they would have taken a different route. Nigeria and Eritrea are the top countries of origin for migrants.

The part of the journey through Libya is reported as being where 78% of all abuses recorded occurred. The rest of the routes for those travelling from and through North Africa accounted for the rest of the abuses migrants encounter on their journeys.

Very high incidences of abuse in Libya are reported in the report. About 95% of the respondents reported they were made to do forced labour in Libya, while 88% said they were arbitrarily detained and 76% said they either witnessed sexual abuse or experienced it.

According to the survey, smugglers perpetrated a third of all sexual abuse cases reported in the Sahara desert. Some respondents claimed that smugglers offered migrants to their drivers for rape as payment. Rebels, desert tribes, bandits, militia, military and police committed another third of the sexual abuse crimes.

The report indicates that people with less awareness of potential difficulties and risks factors are more likely to find themselves facing abuse. According to the study, only 14% of African migrants have a university or a technical degree, while those with no formal schooling make up the biggest group of migrants.