MIXED MIGRATION: LIBYA AT THE CROSSROADS Mapping of Migration Routes from Africa to Europe and Drivers of Migration in Post-revolution Libya Prepared by Altai Consulting for the UNHCR | TRIPOLI – NOVEMBER 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was written by Arezo Malakooti, with the assistance of Tahar Benattia and under the supervision of Eric Davin (Altai Consulting). Field research was conducted by Arezo Malakooti, Tahar Benattia, Laurence Hargreaves, Chashah Nicholas, Usama Al Senosy, Karim Nabata and Guleid Hassan Dirir. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of UNHCR Libya in the design and structure of this project as well as the collaboration of IOM Libya. The assistance of UNHCR and IOM teams in Ethiopia, Niger, Somaliland, Sudan, Malta and Italy, as well as that of the agencies and authorities interviewed is also gratefully acknowledged. Last but not least, we thank all the migrants who kindly offered their opinions and stories for the purposes of this research. ALTAI CONSULTING Altai Consulting provides strategy consulting and research services to private companies, governments and public institutions in developing countries. Altai teams operate in more than 25 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Since its inception 10 years ago, Altai Consulting has developed a strong focus on migration and labour market related research and program evaluations. Contact Details: Arezo Malakooti (Project Director): [email protected] Eric Davin (Altai Partner): [email protected] www.altaiconsulting.com To download this report online: www.altaiconsulting.com/mixedmigrationlibya This publication was produced by Altai Consulting for review by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Opinions expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UNHCR. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms 4 I. FOREWORD 5 II. INTRODUCTION 7 III. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8 IV. METHODOLOGY 14 1. Objectives 14 2. Approach 15 3. Secondary Research 16 4. Fieldwork 20 5. Sample Analysis 27 V. MAIN ROUTES OF TRAVEL AND THE JOURNEY TO LIBYA 30 1. Countries of Origin 30 2. Routes of Travel 31 3. Conditions of Journey 46 4. Smuggling 48 5. Transit Countries 57 6. The Circulation of Information 62 7. The Role of Networks 67 VI. INFLOWS AND DYNAMICS IN LIBYA 71 1. Push and Pull Factors 71 2. Types of Migrants and Reasons for Migration 76 3. Entry Points 93 4. The Libyan Labour Market 98 5. Quantifying the flows of migrants in Libya 100 6. Human Rights Issues 105 VII. OUTFLOWS TO EUROPE AND RETURNS HOME 109 1. Onward Journey from Libya to Europe 109 2. Returns From Libya to Country of Origin 124 VIII. CHANGES SINCE THE REVOLUTION 131 1. Migration Trends Under the Gadhafi Regime 131 2. Impact of the Libyan Revolution 132 3. Changes Post-revolution 133 IX. THE CHANGING NATURE OF THE JOURNEY 136 X. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES 139 1. A Comprehensive Approach for the Management of Mixed Migration 139 2. Recommendations 143 3. Perspectives 145 XI. ANNEX 1: LISTS OF FIGURES 148 LIST OF ACRONYMS AVR Assisted Voluntary Return AVR&R Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration DCIM The Department for Combatting Illegal Migration (Libya) DRC The Danish Refugee Council ECOWAS The Economic Community Of West African States EU The European Union ICMPD International Centre for Migration Policy Development ICRC The International Committee for the Red Cross IDI In-depth interview IDP Internally displaced person IOM The International Organization for Migration KII Key informant interview OAU The Organisation for African Unity RSD Refugee Status Determination UNHCR The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees FOREWORD I. FOREWORD The vast majority of the migration routes through the central Mediterranean transit through Libya. Yet, despite regular press coverage of the too often recurring tragedies unfolding at sea between the Libyan coast and the islands of Lampedusa and Malta, little is actually known about the part of the journey through Libya and further afield. How are the migrants and asylum seekers entering Libya? Which routes do they use? What are the profiles of the migrants? Which countries do they come from? What are their motives? Do all of them intend to travel to Europe by boat? How many of them are arriving in Libya and departing for Europe? What are the risks, dangers and constraints they face throughout their journey to Libya and eventually onto Europe? While on paper there is a clear distinction between economic migrants and asylum seekers, how does this distinction play out in reality? These are some of the questions we had in mind when the idea of this study was first conceived in 2012. Prior to the 17-February Revolution in Libya, access to the southern areas of the country, and to the various detention centres where irregular migrants are kept, was at best difficult, and usually not possible at all. Before 2011, little research on the migration phenomenon in Libya had been conducted, let alone any field study. Gaining first-hand information directly from the people involved in the migration flow; developing a greater insight into the drivers at play and the dynamics of the mixed migration flow; identifying the key dangers and risks involved in the journey; in a nutshell, gaining a better understanding of a fast changing and increasingly complex phenomenon, are some of the key objectives that the study ‘Mixed Migration: Libya at the Crossroads’ was meant to achieve. The study was carried out by Altai Consulting and commissioned by UNHCR. 5 ‘Mixed Migration: Libya at the Crossroads’ represents, to date, the first and most comprehensive and updated attempt to map out the different elements at play in the mixed migration flow, involving extensive field work in ten different key locations in Libya but also in some of the key countries of origin and transit (Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somaliland) and the main countries of destination (Malta and Italy). While it builds on past studies and existing literature, it presents a fresh set of data and a new perspective on a set of issues ranging from travel routes; cost of travel; entry points; conditions of the journey; the dynamics and economics of the smuggling business; the push and pull factors of migration; types of migrants; factors influencing decisions to move on or to settle in Libya; the various protection problems migrants, and particularly asylum seekers, are facing during their journey; attempts to quantify the flow of migrants in Libya and the issues and dangers associated with the onward journey to Europe. The study is part of a wider research project that was commissioned by UNHCR and carried out by Altai Consulting to look at three issues of key concern to UNHCR in post-Gaddafi Libya: namely the dynamics of mixed migration (‘Mixed Migration: Libya at the Crossroads’), the situation of refugees in urban settings (‘A Social and Economic Assessment of Urban Refugees in Three Libyan Cities’) and the status of southern populations (‘Assessing Genealogical Profiles, Access to Documentation and Access to Services in Southern Libya’). In addition to contributing to developing greater insight on each of the concerned topics, all three studies are meant to inform and improve the design of operational interventions and programs in support of people in need of international protection, not only for the UNHCR but also for other actors serving these populations. Mixed Migration: Libya at the Crossroads Altai Consulting | November 2013 FOREWORD Beyond the information and insight they provide on the concerned matters, the three studies also propose a set of recommendations targeting the international organizations in Libya, the UNHCR and the Government of Libya. While the issue of security, border control and enforcement of the rule of law are top priorities for the Libyan government, post-revolution Libya still lacks a proper migration and asylum framework for the proper management of the mixed migration flow into the country that guarantees the physical integrity and protection of the migrants, particularly the asylum seekers fleeing their countries for fear of persecution. Since it re-established its presence in Libya in 2011, the UNHCR has been assisting vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers with relief items, cash assistance and the facilitation of medical referrals. UNHCR is continuously visiting detention centres where persons of concern to the organization are held, providing relief items and medical attention. Through numerous capacity- building initiatives, the office has been advocating for the identification of alternatives to detention and the establishment of procedures that expand the protection space and address the basic needs of refugees and asylum seekers. Yet, the protection needs remain as diverse as they are challenging. By making available this study and sharing new data, UNHCR hopes to generate a renewed interest and attention to the issue of mixed migration in Libya and more particularly to the situation of asylum seekers and refugees. We hope it will lead to reinvigorated efforts by the government, as well as local and international partners, for the development of protection solutions for refugees and asylum seekers in Libya. More opportunities for those seeking asylum need to be made available inside Libya to prevent them from going underground, resorting to illicit activities and risking their lives at sea. 6 As the study suggests, the issue of mixed-migration in Libya has bearings well beyond Libya. In this optic, this study seeks to encourage efforts to bring together the various concerned actors in the region, and along the migration routes, to work in a concerted manner at developing solutions for the many issues associated with mixed migration, but particularly for the achievement of durable solutions for those persons in need of international protection. I wish to extend my gratitude and express my admiration for the work conducted by the Altai Consulting teams, particularly the field teams who spent a great deal of time, and had to endure numerous constraints and challenges, to collect the data for this study.