SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF ILLEGAL MIGRATION FROM RAYA KOBO DISTRICT OF NORTH WOLLO TO THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

The scenario of illegal migration to the Middle East has become a common circumstance for most Ethiopian migrants. Raya Kobo district in North Wollo is also known to be the main source of illegal migration to Saudi Arabia. Various scholarly investigations were undertaken to explain the factors and effects of illegal migration. However, majority of these studies have explained illegal migration from socio-cultural, political, environmental, and demographic angles. Given this, Studies on socio-economic causes, migration decisions, actors of illegal migration, and socio-economic consequences of illegal migration are minimal. Taking this reality into account, this study intended to scrutinize the socio-economic aspects of illegal migration from Raya Kobo District to the Middle East. The study employed mixed research approach with a convergent parallel design. To this end, five rural kebeles were selected by using simple random sampling and a survey has made on 171 migrant deportees from 300 total population using Yemane formula. On the other way, 5 key informant interviews, 15 in-depth interviews with migrant returnees, 5 in-depth interviews with migrant-sending household heads, 3 in-depth interviews with kebele leaders, and 3 focus group discussions with men migrants, women migrants, and religious leaders using snowball sampling. Additionally, the data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and thematic analysis. The study found out that socio-economic causes such as the need for quality life, taking migration as a normal practice, the motive to increase additional assets, presence of family network, and pressure from others are causes of illegal migration. Concerning to migration decisions, the study reviled that individual based cost-benefit analysis and family influences were parts of migration decisions. Moreover, the study found that government security bodies in border area, brokers, returnees, illegal migrants, migrant families, and local community members were actors of illegal migration. Even though there were positive consequences of illegal migration this study founded, its dire consequences such as low participation in social and leisure activity, security problems in transition and destination country, and death. The investigator recommended that the need for a paradigm shift in thinking and attitude of parents’ and community to wards cross- border illegal migration.