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Darfur Livelihoods and Libya: Trade, Migration and Remittance Flows in Times of Conflict and Crisis

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Darfur Livelihoods and Libya: Trade, Migration and Remittance Flows in Times of Conflict and Crisis The Economics of Forced Migration Darfur Livelihoods and Libya: Trade, Migration and Remittance Flows In Times of Conflict and Crisis Helen Young Feinstein International Famine Center Overview • Methodology & approach • Background and context • Migration & trade routes • Darfurians in Kufra • Remittance mechanisms & flows • Impact of conflict on Darfurians Approach to fieldwork • Partnerships - Libyan Red Crescent - (El Kufra University) - Ahfad University, Khartoum • Libya Tufts team: o Abdal Monium Osman o Rebecca Dale • Fieldwork in Libya: o Benghazi o Kufra • Livelihoods framework LIVELIHOODS FRAMEWORK LIABILITIES ASSETS/ INSTITUTIONS INSTITUTIONS INFLUENCE POLICIES & & ACCESS PROCESSES, STRATEGIES OUTCOMES & GOALS Feed Back Factor Qualitative methods • Key informant semi-structured interviews o government - customs, immigration, veterinary services o Academics – University of El Kufra o Sudan embassy o Formal Sudanese Groups e.g. Sudanese Popular Committee • Semi-structured individual interviews • Focus group interviews o PRA techniques: Mapping Ranking Timelines Proportional piling Direct observation Background and context • Historic links – trade, migration, religion • Oil & the economy • Economic sanctions & links with terrorism • Libya & its foreign workforce Open door policy followed by crackdowns Further restrictions in early 2004 • 150,000 to 250,000 Darfurians in Libya o 4% of Darfur’s population o 25% of households with a family member in Libya Causes of conflict in Darfur • National level processes o Economic & political marginalization of Darfur o Wider regional conflicts o Tactical manipulation of ethnic identities by central authorities • Local level processes o Failing institutions – NA, judiciary, policing o Failing development – services o Pressure on & competition for natural resources o Political polarization between tribal groups Migration and trade routes Al Kufrah EGYPT LIBYA Wadi Halfa WADI HALFA Elawynat ABRI ABU H DELGO Qarab Eltom ARGO DONGOLA Dongola SHERRI KARIMA NORTHERN EL SH Atrun MARAWI E CHAD EL MALEHA SUDAN UMM BARRO ED DABBA EL MAT WAD HAMED HAMRAT OMDURMAN ESH SHEIKH SHAMEL NORTH DARFUR NORTH KORDOFAN Omdru SAWDARI HAMRAT EL WIZ Khartoum LEGEND Malha Tini (Wells) KARNOY KOTTOM International bounda Harmat al Sheik State boundary MILLET Sodari SILEL AH Kutum ES SERIF Melit Province boundary KORMA KABKABIYA Camel trade routes Al Jeneina SERIF OMAR EL FASHIR Um Kedada Kabkabiya Um Bal Dongolawi donkey ro A N I Serif Omra Al Fashir E State capital N TAWILAH UMM KEDADA E GULU Dam Jamad G KATTAL Other towns L Zalinge E AZOM An Nahud Beida ZALINGEI NERTITI NYALLA SOQA KASS NORTH NYALLA EJ JAMEL GARSEILA EAST EL LE AEIT Goz Beida WEST DARFURNyala EN NABI Foro Burunga WEST KORDOFAN S N Majajuria O Y U A KUBUM T MUKJAR H L A L W A Y A E ED D AEIN B S 01503 A T M 4 A Rahad al Birdi Z SOUTH DARFUR Babanusa kilometres 30,000 Migration flows 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 Arrivals Surge in 1993 2000 Departures Source: Focus group exercises 2002 Decline in 2004: 2004 •Border closure May 2004 •Insecurity north Darfur •Absorption into tribal militias and warring factions Darfur Livelihood Strategies Cultivation Livestock Trade Labour migration Natural resources Kufra & Jinciya – a transnational trade hub Employment in Kufra Livelihoods of Sudanese before the border closure and mid 2004 (excludes those in transit) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Drivers and mechanics Livestock traders Traders Farmers Restaurant workers Travel agents Gov. and non gov staff Daily la borers Before Current Construction workers Rates of pay • Unskilled daily labourer: $2 per day • Unskilled agricultural worker: $90 per month • Experienced cook: $450 per month • Skilled tailor: $190 to $380 per month • Experienced lorry driver: $450 per journey to Darfur (7 days) • Caravan herder: $188 per journey • Caravan leader/ guide: $1128 per journey Remittance Mechanisms & Flows - • Per annum •Banks o Higher paid workers: $812 - • Hand-carried by $958 (up to 40%) o Unskilled workers: $271 - individuals in cash and $319 (20-30%) kind • Married men send more •Hawalasystem: cash • Goods – clothes, rice, and trade based sugar, pasta, infant linking Libya, Arab formula, oil States and Sudan Phone Hawaldar communication Hawaldar in Remitter in Kufra Gesira Remittee in Kufra LIBYA SUDAN in Gesira LD 60 ($45) SP 100,000 ($39) Impact of conflict • Insecurity restricts freedom of movement – ‘livelihoods under siege’ • Border closure blocks international migration and remittance flows between Libya and Darfur • Government closure of banks and customs points in North Darfur • Blocking transnational trade – especially livestock • Implications for war economy and taxation? • Inflation in Darfur of basic commodities (food, household goods) • Loss of remittances: $15,000,000 (25% of 200,000 migrants remitting $300 per annum) • Increase in distress migration to Khartoum • Breakdown in communications Conclusions & Recommendations • Dual pressures on migrants – conflict & conditions in Libya • Recommendations o Improve phone communications (mobile networks and access to landline) o Extend family tracing and reunification programmes o Open border with Libya – issue for peace talks o Improve security of transport routes & public transport o Discourage recruitment activity & support local skills development o Moves to legalize Sudanese migrants in Libya o End discrimination in Libya – health tests, food subsidies, education & healthcare Thank you Feinstein International Famine Center Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University 126 Curtis Street Medford MA 02155, USA www.famine.tufts.edu Tufts University Medford, MA 02155, USA www.tufts.edu 150 Harrison Ave. Boston, MA 02111, USA http://nutrition.tufts.edu/.
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