EU-IOM Joint Initiative

for Migrant Protection and Reintegration

Ethiopians who frequently travel to the Middle East as migrants seem to enjoy slightly better economic conditions in their communities of origin after return, compared to conditions prior to their first migration.

Of the surveyed re-migrating individuals who reported having an income in Ethiopia between journeys, the average income almost doubled (from 1,817 to 3,248 Birr per month) between journeys, indicating that they may have increased their capital following time spent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the main country of destination in the Gulf states.

Moreover, almost half of those who are re-migrating and reported an income between migrations indicated that their earnings had been sufficient to cover basic needs, while only 17% of them reported that their income had been sufficient prior to their first migration.

Data collected on income sources support this finding, with re-migrating individuals more likely to report that their income between journeys came from ‘savings’ (24% versus 0% before first migration), ‘business or trade’ (19% versus 14% before first migration) and ‘farming’ (12% versus 0%).This indicates that some returnees seem to have been able to utilize remittances to improve self-sufficiency.

Nonetheless, only 28% of re-migrating individuals reported that they had an income in Ethiopia between journeys, and it is not unusual for migrants to re-migrate shortly after returning.

These are just some of the findings of research carried out in Bossaso, Puntland, by the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Regional Data Hub for the East and Horn of Africa, which is partly funded by the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in the Horn of Africa.

The research – which was conducted prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region - is part of a multistage research project aimed at better understanding the experiences, decision-making, perceptions and expectations of young Ethiopians along the Eastern Route towards the Arab Peninsula.

Obock, Djibouti, and Bossaso, Puntland, were selected as the main study sites. Both are gateways to Yemen and receive a large number of Ethiopian migrants travelling on the Eastern Route. The findings from the Obock phase of the research were published in May 2020.

In the other areas, the research in Bossaso largely mirrors the findings from Obock. For example, first-time migrants are mostly single men with low levels of education. Half of first-time migrants made the decision to migrate by themselves. Most (65%) made their migration decision less than one month before departure. Around 20% reported that their decision was ‘spontaneous’.

Economic motivations (77%) are the main driver of migration of first-time migrants, in particular unemployment: “They say migration is not good, but it is not out of love that we migrate. We would love to work in our country, but we do not get a job,” one respondent remarked.

Conflict (45%) and environmental conditions (40%) were also commonly cited push factors. Most (87%) plan to return to Ethiopia to ‘help their family’ (43%), ‘open a business’ (37%) and enjoy a ‘better life’ (23%). Only 13 per cent of migrants are planning on ‘not returning home’.

Just like survey respondents in Obock, those in Bossaso showed a low level of risk awareness. Except for knowledge of the boat journey across the Gulf of Aden – less than 15% of first-time migrants said they were aware of the scarcity of water and food during the journey or of the war in Yemen, the major transit country for the onward journey to the Gulf States.

The study also looked into the motivations of mainly first-time migrants who have ended their journey in Bossaso and are getting assisted voluntary return (AVR) assistance. These migrants are younger, on average, than other migrant categories in the study and almost half of them are female. They are most commonly returning to Ethiopia as they ‘could not afford to continue their journey’ (33%), due to ‘illness or injury’ (20%) or because they have decided that the ‘journey is too dangerous’ (20%). Most (85%) are planning on returning to their habitual residence, while the rest plan to look for a job elsewhere. Of those returning to their habitual residence, one third want to look for a job (33%) and 27% are planning on continuing their education.

Structured surveys in Bossaso were administered to a sample of 1,526 young migrants between 15 and 29 years old. Surveys were conducted in 10 locations across Bossaso including: the port area, Suweto, Salama Mosque Area, Suweto Road, Jeexsinta, Jama Mosque Area, World Food Programme office area, Magaala Farms (Whote town), Al Macruuf Shopping Centre and Village Hotel Area.

The final phase of the research project will target communities of high emigration in Ethiopia, where both returning, re-migrating and potential migrants will be interviewed to get a more comprehensive picture of their motivations, perceptions and expectations as well as a better understanding of the environment in which migration is taking place.

About the EU-IOM Joint Initiative

Launched in December 2016 with the support of the European Union (EU) Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the programme brings together 26 African countries of the Sahel and Lake Chad region, the Horn of Africa, and North Africa, the EU and IOM around the goal of ensuring migration is safer, more informed and better governed for both migrants and their communities.

For more information please contact the IOM Regional Office in Nairobi: Julia Hartlieb, Tel: +254 734 988 846, Email: jhartlieb@iom.int; or Wilson Johwa, Tel:  +254 20 4221 112, Email: wjohwa@iom.int.