2015 Situation Report on International Migration Migration, Displacement and Development in a Changing Arab Region International Organization for Migration E/ESCWA/SDD/2015/1 2015 Situation Report on International Migration Migration, Displacement and Development in a Changing Arab Region International Organization for Migration UNECA 2 © 2015 United Nations and International Organization for Migration All rights reserved worldwide Requests to reproduce excerpts or to photocopy should be addressed to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations House, Riad El Solh Square, P.O. Box: 11-8575, Beirut, Lebanon. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should also be addressed to ESCWA. E-mail: [email protected]; website: www.escwa.un.org The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of the United Nations or its officials or Member States, the International Organization for Migration or its officials or Member States, any of the organizations engaged in the Working Group on International Migration in the Arab Region or any of the organizations referred to in the report. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations or any of the above-mentioned organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Statistics and data provided in the report are provisional and do not necessarily imply official endorsement. References to dollars ($) are to United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. Symbols of the United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. Photo credits: Cover: © UNHCR / C. Herwig 3 Foreword Migration carries many connotations in the Not only has the story of their displacement Arab region. Whether undertaken by choice not come to an end, it continues to this day. or necessity, it is a journey in search of a new Following the Israeli occupation in 1967 of the beginning. It is about people’s longing to settle remaining Palestinian territories, its people in a new country, but at the same time their were again subject to displacement, some yearning to return home. In the end, it is about forced abroad and others elsewhere within the belonging to many places after having felt a country, after seeing their lands seized, their foreigner in all of them. homes razed, their towns renamed and their holy places desecrated. People who choose to migrate do so in the hope of improving their quality of life. In To their suffering has been added that of times past, nomads sought out places rich others caught up in conflagrations, the latest in water and blessed with green pastures. of which flared up in Yemen in early 2015, that Today’s young migrants are tempted abroad to have rocked the region in recent years. As a complete their education; scientists seek out result, flight has been the unhappy destiny of research and development centres; creative countless Arabs. With the number of Syrian people are drawn to thriving arts hubs; and refugees now above the four million mark, workers move to countries where booming the region has become the greatest source economies need their labour. Such migration and recipient of displaced persons and enriches host countries culturally and refugees worldwide. The ordeals of Iraq, Libya, economically and, at the same time, stimulates Palestine, Somalia, the Sudan and the Syrian development, alleviates poverty and fosters Arab Republic have left many with little choice improved human welfare in countries of origin. but to risk all by attempting dangerous sea crossings, often falling victim to and taken However, there is another aspect to human advantage of by people smugglers. For some, mobility in our region: people are fleeing seeking safety in flight not only was doomed their countries in droves to escape internal to failure, but has come at the cost of their own displacement, repression, and sheer misery. lives. This is the dark side of population movements today: tent cities and shattered houses; the This double-edged nature of migration countless faces of displaced children and the prompted the Economic and Social elderly; barbed wire and frail boats struggling Commission for Western Asia and the in rugged seas. This is the displacement caused International Organization for Migration by the occupation of Palestine and armed to join forces with 12 United Nations conflict and civil wars that are tearing the Arab agencies, members of the Working Group on world apart and casting the shadow of death International Migration in the Arab Region, to far and wide. study the phenomenon and examine the plight of migrants and refugees in the region in the Since 1948, some 5 million Palestinian light of the relevant political and academic refugees, at one time or another forced off considerations. This report is the fruit of their their land, have been unable to return home. combined efforts. 4 The report complements existing studies and region persist, it has become clear that durable research and aims to broaden discussion on human rights-based solutions are needed, the nature of migration and its impact on the and that sharing the benefits of international region. It describes the key migration patterns migration should go hand in hand with shared and trends, and calls for bold and innovative responsibility. This report calls for greater developmental approaches to migration. It international cooperation, based on principles further makes a case for policies to promote of collective responsibility, so that host the free movement of people and greater countries confronted with disasters and crises integration between countries of origin and are not left to face them alone. destination, insofar as such policies are compatible with their interests and contribute As this report is published, waves of migrants to their economic and social well-being. It also continue to flow to and from countries in covers the effects of migrant remittances and the region in search of safety and security. their growing role in driving development. It is our duty, following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Faced by consecutive crises, some Arab to provide policy guidance and stimulate countries have opened their borders to academic debate that can lead to lasting welcome unprecedented numbers of refugees. solutions in which migration is viewed as a As conflicts and political instability in the matter of rights and life. Rima Khalaf William Lacy Swing Under-Secretary-General Director of the United Nations International Organization Executive Secretary of ESCWA for Migration Co-chair of the Working Group Co-chair of the Working Group on International Migration on International Migration in the Arab Region in the Arab Region 5 Acknowledgements The Economic and Social Commission for We would also like to thank colleagues and Western Asia (ESCWA) and the International focal points from the aforementioned United Organization for Migration (IOM) would Nations agencies who have contributed their like to thank everyone who contributed to time and expertise to develop this report, this collaborative multi-agency endeavour including: Hans van de Glind (ILO); Nada and acknowledge the support, advice and Darwazeh and Renaud Detalle (OHCHR); dedicated work of many individuals and Yamina Chakkar (UNAIDS); Kishan Khoday organizations. (UNDP); Omar Ismael Abdourahman (ECA); Melanie Hutchinson (UNEP); Tareq el-Sheikh This report was made possible only by (UN-Habitat); Shaden Khallaf, Areti Siani and outstanding leadership, vision and direction Ann Maymann (UNHCR); Luay Shabaneh from Karima El Korri (ESCWA) and Karoline (UNFPA); Aspasia Plakantonaki and Anne Linn Popp (IOM). The report could not have been Jensen (UNODC); Mohammad Naciri (UN- produced without the dedicated assistance Women); and Naeema Al-Gasseer (WHO). of Paul Tacon, Jozef Bartovic, Francheska Hbayter, Rouba Arja, Raidan al-Saqqaf, Our sincere gratitude goes to the experts Naeem Almutawakel, Lara El Khoury, Helen who supported the development of the Mackreath, Lana Baydas and Frederico Neto report. The co-chairs wish to acknowledge (ESCWA), Pasquale Lupoli and Harry Cook the work of Susan Martin, Donald G. (IOM), all of whom have worked tirelessly to Herzberg Professor of International support the research, analysis and drafting of Migration, Georgetown University, and the report. the team working with her, including Abbie Taylor and Sanjula Weerasinghe We would like to express our gratitude (Georgetown University), for authorship of to the members of the working group: Part IV, “Forced Migration, Displacement the International Labour Organization and Development”. We also thank Enas El (ILO); Office of the United Nations High Fergany, Director of the Population Policies, Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Expatriates and Migration Department, United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/ League of Arab States (PPEMD-LAS) AIDS (UNAIDS); United Nations Development and Lobna Azzam (PPEMD-LAS) for their Programme (UNDP); Economic Commission expertise. We acknowledge the contribution for Africa (ECA); United