The immigrant crisis, but what is the solution?

That the migraine phenomena of these years from Africa represent a drama has already been trained. Measures of people take desperate trips, face long and dangerous roads on foot, board highly uncertain boats, and, when they do not end up in hostile Libyan centres or are sucked by Mediterranean waters, reach their destination without finding what Eldorado they had dreamed of. But if these migration waves take advantage of immigration sites, migration sites, and especially immigrants, then must be intervened to set up a dam. But how? In Terris has spoken about this with Professor Anna Bono, Africanist and former researcher at the University of Turin, author of the book “Migration! Migrent! Migrent! ” Segno”, 2017). To cope with the problem, it is essential that the field of analysis be cleared of false myths that still revolve around the phenomenon.

Professor Bono, who are the immigrants coming to Europe from Africa?

“, to the greatest extent, over 80%, are young men, aged between 18 and 34, travelling alone. Couples and families are a small minority. They come from a series of countries in sub - Saharan Africa, even though this year there has been a drop of Tunisian immigrants with a predominantly central and western Africa, from countries like Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana...”

On average, what is the social status of these people?

It's not easy to say, because there are very different situations. However, it should be said that on the topic of immigration there is a false myth: most do not leave the situation of extreme poverty. It's mostly people coming from the urban center and it's there that measure the idea of leaving the country. So I find it correct to point out that most immigrants belong to the middle class: non-rich people, not even poor people, able to pay dearly those who organize their trips”.

So how does the idea of migrants mature if you are not in a state of poverty and are not lived in conflict areas?

To answer, I think it's important to quote the Secretary of Senegales abroad, who said a few years ago in an interview: There are no people out here who have nothing. This is where people who want more” go. The popular idea in Africa is that it is enough to achieve in Europe to enjoy well - being, but without considering that there are sacrifices behind the produced wealth”.

How does this illusion thrive?

The “they feed are different factors. Above all, traffickers, who are known to manage most of the trips to Europe. It's those who strengthen this idea, of course they do it to secure clients. It is necessary to underscore that on June 13th, it was published by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODC) a report out of which appears that in 2016 these criminal organizations have transported at least 2.5 million people, out of whom some 400,000 to Italy, released a total of between 5.5 and $7 billion. The report explains in detail how approach to customers function, hard work, why not what different tariffs are”.

But is there a discouraging work on which it has already reached Europe and realised that “Eldorado” was an illusion?

Rather, those who come to Europe simply feed their relatives and friends in Africa more on the idea that they have reached a goal worth spending and risking. The tendency is to describe positive situations, even when they are not, to justify the choice made. But it should be said that often anyone who arrives has nothing to complain about: since almost everyone is looking for and providing for asylum, at least in the first few years enjoy a protection and assistance system that arouses envy for the one who has not yet been launched”.

Okay, but the news of crossing the desert, Libyan camps, of tragedies in the Mediterranean should not represent a discourageer to the one who wants to leave?

The problem is that these situations are more familiar with us than they are. Access to the media of Africans as well as those living in cities is very limited. Despite this, many are aware of the dangers and are willing to accept, just as many, perhaps initially willing to start, are attracted to such tragedies. In this regard, I would like to underline the importance of counterinformation work that some subjects are developing in Africa”.

Please...

Some governments, like many African episcopal conferences, are trying to explain to young people how much it costs, how much is at stake, and how little is provided in the perspective of moving to countries where there is neither work nor concrete economic and social integration opportunities.

What governments are doing this?

Senegal's “, Nigeria's and, by 2014, the mountain's, which is making strong propaganda to demonstrate that a country from which its newest and strongest citizens emigrate would never grow. Still: Starting last year and working with religious authorities, both Christian and Islamic, Sierra Leone. They are steps forward that encourage young people not to leave but to stay to improve their country”.

What about refugees? What is their exact number?

The latest report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) speaks of over 60 million mostly displaced. Then, if we talk about refugees - people who leave the country from war and persecution - the figure is about 20 million. Of these only a small minority came to Italy, sought asylum, and took it: for accuracy, 3555, in 2016 it was 4940, and in 2017 it was 6578<62.

Why are there so few? The popular idea is that conflicts are the main cause of migration...

Because most of those who leave the war find asylum as soon as they cross the border, on the other hand, the Geneva Convention predicts that the fugitive will immediately seek asylum in the first place signatories of the Convention where he steps down. Then there is a second motive: who flees under threat of persecution and war requires that he stay as close to home as possible because the idea is that of returning as soon as possible”.

How much impact does resource exploitation have on immigration? I think for example about land grabing, i.e. the advancement of land by foreign countries or industries...

“Of course there are factors that have an impact on their own. Responsibilities should be sought in African governments, which to stay on the subject land grabing They prefer to sell their land to industries or countries that hunger for arable land (Kine, India, Saudi Arabia) by quickly putting money into their pockets instead of stimulating local agriculture even through investments. Africa is rich in mining resources, I think here about cobalt, but especially about oil, which is bought and paid by companies, but the problem is where the money ends”.

Where?

I'm giving you a clue: in 2014, out of the 77 billion dollars that the Nigeria National Oil Ent, 14 billion have never been deposited. They ended up in a bank account while serving for the country's social development. Although the continent's first oil producer, Nigeria imports refined oil from outside. Keep in mind that Africa for more than 20 years records considerable economic growth and, in the first place, is the countries where most immigrants come from, only these resources are looted or come to the elites for a while.

In the last European Council, states have sought to further contribute to the European Union Fund for Africa, sending another 500m euros. Is this a way to help “in their” house or to feed the corruption you just mentioned?

“These 500 million are a further amount, adding to the billions that annually are destined for Africa by cooperation for the development of the United States and Europe. In fact, when I hear a “Marshal Plan for Africa”, I remain speechless, since resources are already sent to large quantities, but their designers -- namely, governments -- are a little bit reliable. I'm giving you an example: in Somalia, which is one of the most assisted countries, the World Bank has demonstrated a few years ago that of the $10 given to the government, $7 is unknown where it ends”.

You've mentioned Somalia, where is the presence of Islamic radicalism strong: it's possible that this money which doesn't know where it ends up enriching jihadist groups?

“Eh, who knows... Of course, these groups have very large resources and very powerful sponsors. In addition, they have often become involved in illegal trafficking - drug distribution, weapons, illegal hunting. Years ago it has been found that al - Shabaab of Somalia holds about 40% of the profits obtained from selling elephant teeth. Remember that there is an expression in Kenny: “Today an elephant has been killed, and tomorrow a man will be killed, exactly to highlight the procession between poaching and terrorism”.

A United Nations research reveals that in 2050, there will be further demographic growth in Africa and a decline in the West. Will not mass migration be an increasingly inevitable phenomenon?

Whatever it is, it's production, not safe data. It is not necessarily the same situation will remain in demographic terms in 30 years. With good family policies and a cultural exchange, one can overturn demographic trends in the West, as is possible in the first place, that the African population will not grow as the United Nations predicts (just record a small variation for below, respectively, the projections of a few years ago) and that Africa will then eventually become a continent able to develop and persuade its young people not to leave by feeding migrants's clanate trafistra.

By going to Italy, how do you assess the recent controversy between the Italian government and NGOs?

“In my opinion, the mode of operating of many NGOs is highly controversial, as they come into direct contact with traffickers and anticipate the nearly introduction of nearly into Libyan territorial waters to then move towards Italy, even though they carry the flag of another state, even though the nearest port is elsewhere. The previous government, through Minister Minni, had also raised the problem and had considered taking action. The new government is demonstrating not only more determined, but the goal has remained that of respecting national sovereignty and international law”.

To change the motto of a recent initiative, there is no danger that by closing ports “you are no longer human”?

“Europe in general, but specifically Italy, is far from the most prosperous stage in their history: the latest data tells us about 5 million Italians in absolute poverty and hundreds of thousands of Italians emigrated abroad, Italy is 20th among the countries with migration. In this situation, it is fair to prevent people from reaching a place that can assist in the short term but is unable to guarantee them a dignified future. One who comes from Africa to Italy has a very small possibility of building a life: in most cases, you are forced to live with charity, to work in black, and in inhumane conditions, perhaps in some tomato parce, or to fan the ranks of organized crime”.

So closing the ports could be a way of discouraging the illegal voyages?

“That's correct. It is important to feed the passage of the word among immigrants. There is a lot of evidence of young people who have started traveling to Europe but have failed to end up at a destination, which they claim if they had known they would not have spent so much money and wasted years of their lives on such a tempting enterprise. The only way to discourage these future-free projects is to demonstrate that the journey of hope is an illusion that at destination it is not achieved: and closing the ports is the most definite message that can be made”.

Prepare: TIRANA ARMIN / World.al