Migration case studies

Page 1

Forced Migration: The Rohingya

Muslim minority living in Northern Myanmar, 600 000 refugees to neighbouring Bangladesh. Buddhists make up 91% of the population. Buddhist population and government are antagonistic towards the Muslim minority.

25% of the population are below the official poverty line

50% of the population are employed in agriculture and fishing which is still low tech

Causes of the Migration:

Longstanding persecution - the Rohingya, a muslim minority in Myanmar's Rakhine state have faced systematic discrimination including denial of citizenships, restrictions on movement and limited access to healthcare and education

Ethnic and religious conflift - ethnical difference from Buddhist majorrity in Myanmar, historical resentment fuelled by British era migration policies and Buddhist nationalism has led to deep rooted animosity

Government oppression - ultra nationalist groups have systematically marginalised the Rohingya, inciting violence and promoting anti Rohingya sentiments.

State sponsored violence - in 2017 Myanmar military launched, "clearance operations," in Rakhine state following attacks by the Rohingya insurgent group ARSA. these attacks included forced evictions, mass killings, rape and destruction of villages

Mass displacement - more than 60,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh within months due to threats of violence

Impacts on the source country - Myanmar:

Depopulation of Rakhine state - over 600, 000 fled, significantly reducing province's population

Destruction of infrastructure - military burned down at least 288 Rohingya villages, erasing communities and discouraging return

Loss of labour force - expulsion of Rohingya many who were engaged in agriculture and trade has impacted local economies

Human rights violations - Myanmar faces accusations of ethnic cleansing - drawing condemnation from the UN and human rights organisations

Impacts on the destination coutry - Bangladesh:

Overpopulation in refugee camps - more than 500,000 Rohingya refugees are housed in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, straining resources

Humanitarian crisis - sudden influx has led to foold shortages, inadequate sanitation, and a lack of healthcare facilities

Economic strain - Bangladesh alreading a developing country has struggled to provide for refugees, with limited support from the international community

Environmental degradation - deforestation and land use changes due to makeshift settlements have negatively impacted the local ecosystem

Page 2

Forced Migration - Rwanda

From April - July 1994, Rwanda murdered 800, 000 people.

Impacts on camps:

10, 000 hectares of land cut down in Tanzania

600m per hectare in each camp

Population was outnumbered by a ratio of 4:1 and there were 700,000 refugees in a population among 186,000

10,000m wood is consumed per year for cooking

People have to walk several hours to find bushes to cut

In Zaire, 85 - 95% of refugees are dying of diarrhoea

Cholera and other diseases broke out

Poor hygiene in camps

deaths occur at 600/ week and 2000/ week

Page 3

Rural Urban Migration Rural NE Urban NE, Sao Paulo

General pattern:

10m people from 1960 - 2001

follows a pattern of chain migration and distance decay

Sao Paulo Impacts:

65% urban growth, due to high pop and amount of migrants entering - competition for space

high amount of pop = more dense living in order to fit more housing in resulting in growth of favelas

little space = high amount of people = over population = poor living standards

Cholera is a major health problem

Poor hygiene due to housing having a lack of sewage, running water, public services

high amount of gangs, 900 thefts per day, 5500 murders, 360 bank robberies in 1998

Brazil has 70% of labour in Sao Paulo, 300 000 migrants per year, over 300,000 businesses which attracts investment, more migrants and industry, promoting growth in other industries - Sao Paulo has a hgih GDP

15% unemployment lead to under employment and 4m burden of people

Push factors:

High amount of poverty - 60% of pop is in poverty

30% of subsitence farmers live below the poverty line - can't access fertilisers that allow them to produce high yields

physical conditions make it harder to produce enough crops - 7 droughts in the last 100 years

overpopulation - high birth rate of 30/1000

Pull factors:

Higher amount of higher degree jobs, higher education opportunities, 76% of rural pop is literate but 90% in urban areas in 2010

Higher life expectancy for people living in SE than NE 48 vs 63

Improved road and transport

More ideal climate

Constraints:

Physical environment - Brazilian highlands make it hard to cross over

Distance decay - people unlikely to go to an unfamiliar area and uneducated

May not know much about Sao Paulo

Costs of moving - high poverty

Reluctance to leave - family ties, friends

Page 4

Intervening obstacles: Eritrea

Push factors:

Politics - government accused of repression and of hindering the development of democracy

Human rights - UN investigating human rights

The economy is on the brink of a mining boom, heavily dependent on remittances, and 80% works in agriculture

Food security - periodic droughts, chronic food shortages

GDP per capita of the UK is 76 times more than Eritrea, Eritrea's population below the poverty line is 4 times that of the UK, fear of crime in Eritrea is 18% more than in UK

Pull factors:

Differences in wealth and quality of life between host and source countries - Neoclassical economic theory: successfully migrants can hope - better employment opportunities, improved financial position

Peace, security and protection from persecution

Intervening obstacles:

276,113 migrants entered the EU irregularly in 2014

Physical barriers - migration into Europe is dangerous, physical barriers of meditarranean sea, the Rhodope and Stara Planina nountains og Greece and Bulgaria

Distance decay

Immigration laws - in 2002 EU adopted a legal framework on smuggling

Page 5

Mexico to USA : voluntary migration

Causes:

Large gap in average income - stimulus to movement and emigration surging during periods of wage decline

Unemployment rates - weak growth in labour demand results in high levels of unemployment and underemployment

Growth of labour force - high pop growth in Mexico compared to the USA

Guest worker programme began when US farms experienced a shortage of labour during periods of war

Character:

Early in the 20th century the American government allowed the recruitment of Mexican workers as guest workers

Young Mexican men "braceros," were allowed to enter between 1917 - 21 and later between 1942 - 64

Very little illegal migration from Mexico to USA

in 2013 approx 11.6 million Mexican immigrants lived in the USA up from 2.2 mill in 1980

Impacts on Mexico - source:

Economic - high value of remittances 22 billion in 2013, national source of income

Reduced unemployment pressure as migrants leave areas where unemployment is high

lower pressure on housing stock and public services

changes in population structure - emigration of young adults mostly men

loss of skill and enterprising people

women and children take on agricultural labour men previously did

if no one can work the land - agricultural plots are sold or abandoned

women's and children's psychological health has been greatly affected by family members' migration

Impacts on USA - destination:

when the guest worker programme began Mexican workers increased the supply of labour at low wages and this contributed to higher land prices

The end of bracero program - farm wages rose, increasing mechanisation of US agriculture

under the bracero programme American farmers were required to pay for the transport of Mexican workers from the US border

In early 1980s high pop growth and economic crisis resulted in increased in illegal migration across the border

Page 6

Counter urbanisation: Auckland to Clevedon

Characteristics:

The people who typically migrate are retired people who don't need to commut to the city, people who may work from home and families who want an urban lifestyle

Auckland has a slightly less ageing population

Why is Clevedeon attractive to many people:

Highway provided to Flatbush - 20m to Manukau and 50m to city

Can still access good quality of education

Southern Motorway provides road link to commuters

Railway is 15 minute drive way and is accessible to Auckland city

Benefits of counter urbanisation:

Less skilled workers in the area find it easier to find work as painters or decorators, they won't be forced into traditional rural jobs like farming with long hours and low pay

Landowners and house sellers can sell at high prices

Rural services see an increase in demand and profits

Improved infrastructure due to roading

High order services like restaurants have opened to meet needs

Issues:

Increased housing costs means locals can't afford to buy houses in the area

If too many houses are built invillages the rural character may be destoyed

social tension - farmer in village has different priorities to a local person

Village becomes a dormitory settlement

Community spirit is lost

Lack of local public transport

Increased traffic volume