![[Senegal] Fishing boats, Dakar. [Date picture taken: 05/31/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/20065318.jpg.webp?itok=xNx6TBFz "Type de pirogue emprunté par les immigrants clandestins pour braver les mers et rejoindre l'Espagne")
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released its State of the Population Report 2006 on Wednesday, highlighting the number of youths migrating across borders and the need for both departing and receiving countries to offer better opportunities for them.
Young people between 15 and 29 years of age make up half of the international migration flow, said UNFPA.
The report comes on the heels of a surge of illegal migrants from West Africa, mostly young men, attempting to reach the Spanish Canary Islands in hopes of eventually entering mainland Spain.
This weekend alone, 1,400 migrants landed on the islands, and Senegalese security forces reported intercepting 117 migrants attempting to leave on a fishing vessel from Senegal’s southern Casamance region on Sunday night.
Since July, Casamance has become the main point of departure for illegal migrants from Senegal. Many people from neighbouring countries, such as The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, also travel to the region to attempt the voyage.
So far this year, 20,000 people have arrived in the Canaries, and the Spanish Red Cross estimates that more than 1,000 migrants drowned in the first three months of 2006 alone.
The UNFPA report said unemployment and disillusionment among youths in developing countries prompted them to take enormous risks to reach Europe. It noted that in sub-Saharan Africa, 21 percent of young people are out of school and out of work.
The report added that greater access to information has made young people more aware of the opportunities they lack at home. “Exposure to cinema and TV, increased access to the internet, the tales of migrants, and what they can see of the lives of better-off people in their own countries motivate their dreams,” it said.
UNFPA said young migrants are often vulnerable to human rights abuses, such as exploitation, trafficking and violence. The organisation called on governments of both receiving and departing countries to recognise the contributions that youth can make to society.
“Young people are characterised by innovation, by creativity, by perseverance and hard work, and by wanting to try something new. If well-guided and directed, that spirit is the kind that will bring well-being to any society,” said Thoroya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA.
Mamadou Ba, a carpenter in Casamance, said the region is losing its youth. He said all of his apprentices have left. “All five left for Spain last month,” he said. The area has also been drained of mechanics, fishermen and bricklayers.
“I only have one apprentice left, the others took boats to reach Spain,” said Moussa Badiane, a bricklayer. He added that arrests made by the police have not deterred young men from leaving.
Next week, the UN General Assembly will hold a special session to discuss international migration.
To read a related story, click HERE
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Young people between 15 and 29 years of age make up half of the international migration flow, said UNFPA.
The report comes on the heels of a surge of illegal migrants from West Africa, mostly young men, attempting to reach the Spanish Canary Islands in hopes of eventually entering mainland Spain.
This weekend alone, 1,400 migrants landed on the islands, and Senegalese security forces reported intercepting 117 migrants attempting to leave on a fishing vessel from Senegal’s southern Casamance region on Sunday night.
Since July, Casamance has become the main point of departure for illegal migrants from Senegal. Many people from neighbouring countries, such as The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, also travel to the region to attempt the voyage.
So far this year, 20,000 people have arrived in the Canaries, and the Spanish Red Cross estimates that more than 1,000 migrants drowned in the first three months of 2006 alone.
The UNFPA report said unemployment and disillusionment among youths in developing countries prompted them to take enormous risks to reach Europe. It noted that in sub-Saharan Africa, 21 percent of young people are out of school and out of work.
The report added that greater access to information has made young people more aware of the opportunities they lack at home. “Exposure to cinema and TV, increased access to the internet, the tales of migrants, and what they can see of the lives of better-off people in their own countries motivate their dreams,” it said.
UNFPA said young migrants are often vulnerable to human rights abuses, such as exploitation, trafficking and violence. The organisation called on governments of both receiving and departing countries to recognise the contributions that youth can make to society.
“Young people are characterised by innovation, by creativity, by perseverance and hard work, and by wanting to try something new. If well-guided and directed, that spirit is the kind that will bring well-being to any society,” said Thoroya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA.
Mamadou Ba, a carpenter in Casamance, said the region is losing its youth. He said all of his apprentices have left. “All five left for Spain last month,” he said. The area has also been drained of mechanics, fishermen and bricklayers.
“I only have one apprentice left, the others took boats to reach Spain,” said Moussa Badiane, a bricklayer. He added that arrests made by the police have not deterred young men from leaving.
Next week, the UN General Assembly will hold a special session to discuss international migration.
To read a related story, click HERE
mad/kdd/cs/ss
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