A cura di @Gio.

Due ricerche pubblicate recentemente analizzano i motivi che spingono i migranti ad attraversare il Mediterraneo per raggiungere l’Europa.

Lo studio Mixed Migration Trends in Libya: Changing Dynamics and Protection Challenges finanziato dall’UNHCR analizza le evoluzioni dei flussi di rifugiati e migranti che attraversano la Libia e i rischi in cui incorrono. Tra le conclusioni dello studio emerge come circa la metà di coloro che si mettono in viaggio verso il paese nord-africano credono di poter trovare lì un lavoro, ma si trovano poi costretti a fuggire per assenza di reali prospettive e la presenza di condizioni di pericolo di vita o il rischio di subire abusi.

Working from time to time in construction jobs in the capital, Tripoli, he has struggled to find a regular work. In his search he has been robbed, assaulted and racially abused, while his wife and daughters suffered sexual abuse.

“I have faced all the problems: theft, bad treatment, discrimination, exploitation (and the) rape attempt of my wife and daughters,” he says.

Anche la ricerca Crossing the Mediterranean Sea by Boat finanziata dall’UK Economic and Social Research Council, giunge ad analoghe conclusioni.

On the central route, many who had travelled via Libya never planned to come to Europe, with conditions in Libya and the difficulties of returning through a country where they had alreadysuffered torture, abuse, forced labour and imprisonment in dire conditions rendering onward travelto Europe their only option. Seven of our research participants on the central route described aprocess of being forced onto boats to Europe, either against their will or without their knowledge of what was happening, often after requesting money from employers.