KATHMANDU: News of individuals perishing in their pursuit of a life in America from Nepal continues to surface, with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal highlighting the phenomenon of an entire village in Rukum gradually emptying due to a wave of villagers seeking opportunities in America.
While the government possesses data on legal migration to Australia, America, Gulf countries, Malaysia, and European nations, the extent of illegal immigration remains uncharted.
Whether driven by the perceived lack of opportunities in Nepal or the allure of a promising future abroad, the desire to immigrate persists. But why?
According to the World Bank, factors such as income inequality, population changes, climate shifts, violence, conflict, social exclusion, corruption, and insufficient opportunities for education, healthcare, and social security contribute to migration.
Policy changes in both origin and destination countries and the demand for migrant labor further influence this global movement.
The United Nations defines any person leaving their birth country as a migrant, with the present era witnessing the largest exodus in history.
Examining contemporary news on immigration, the parallels between Eriksson’s tribulations and the struggles of present-day migrants are apparent.
The Council on Foreign Relations reports that out of the 280 million global migrants, one in 30 people now resides away from their birthplace.
Of these, 35.3 million are refugees, while 5.9 million aspire to find refuge elsewhere.
Nearly half, 48 percent, are women, and three-quarters fall within the 20 to 64 age bracket, with 40 million migrants being under 20 years old.
Asia and Europe host the largest immigrant populations, both at 31 percent. North America follows with 21 percent, Africa with 9 percent, Latin America and the Caribbean with 5 percent, and Oceania with 3 percent.
Over the past 30 years, global immigration has surged by 80 percent, reaching 3.6% in 2020 from 2.88% in 1990, with conflicts like the Syrian war playing a pivotal role in this rise.
Statistically, ten countries generate one-third of all immigrants, with India leading with 17.8 million expatriates, constituting just 1 percent of the country’s total population.
Mexico, Russia, China, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Afghanistan follow suit.
Approximately 2.6 million Nepalis, nearly 9 percent of the population, reside abroad.
In terms of destinations, the United States tops the list with 56 million immigrants, followed by Germany (15.8 million), Saudi Arabia (13.5 million), and Russia (1.6 million). The UK, UAE, France, Canada, Australia, and Spain also feature in the top 10.
For those fleeing conflict, war-torn Syria produces the most refugees (6.8 million), followed by Venezuela (4.6 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million), South Sudan (2.4 million), and Myanmar (1.2 million). Turkey emerges as the largest host country, providing shelter to 37 million refugees.
Afterwards, Colombia, Venezuela’s neighbor, has become the second-largest host of refugees, providing shelter to 1.8 million. Following in this ranking, Uganda claims the third position, with Pakistan securing the fourth, and Germany holding the fifth spot.
While these statistics offer an official glimpse, the reality of global immigration is believed to be grimmer. In essence, migration appears to be a predominant trend from Asia, Africa, and Latin America towards the developed nations of Europe, North America, and Australia.
Year after year, millions embark on arduous journeys to migrate, with some pursuing legitimate means, while others are willing to pay any price to reach their desired destinations.
Immigrants from Latin America, Africa, and Asia utilizing illegal routes often follow significant pathways to reach countries in America, Europe, and Australia.
Under the first route, migrants, having arrived at the northern coast of the continent from various African countries like Libya and Tunisia, undertake a perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea by boat, reaching European Union islands such as Lampedusa and Pantelleria in Italy.
Similarly, migrants arriving from Asia and the Middle East to Turkey traverse the Aegean Sea, reaching the island of Lesbos in Greece through another route.
The United Nations reports that, since the start of the year, over 2,400 individuals have died or gone missing during journeys across the Mediterranean Sea—a figure not seen since 2018.
In 2015, Europe faced a crisis as migrants entered the European Union by land from Turkey through the Balkans.
Another significant route involves migrants traveling by boat from the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar to reach Malaysia and Indonesia for illegal immigration.
News surfaced earlier about hundreds of migrants reaching Belarus through Russian land, attempting to move to Poland from there.
One of the most discussed immigration routes is from Latin American countries to Mexico, and subsequently to America. Illegal immigration along this route has escalated into a crisis in both the US and Mexico.
Millions utilize this route annually, driven by poverty, hunger, corruption, failed state mechanisms, violence from criminal gangs, and drug dealers in Latin America, coupled with the compelling dream of reaching America.
Voice of America reports that, since the beginning of the year, US border security officials have detained over 1.7 million immigrants at the US-Mexico border.
In September alone, more than 60,000 immigrants from Venezuela arrived in Mexico, along with 35,000 from Guatemala and 27,000 from Honduras, according to the Mexican government.
Tale from the Middle Ages
In the medieval Norse saga, “Vinland’s Nalibeli” (Vinland Chronicle), unfolds the captivating biography of an explorer named Leif Eriksson from Iceland. His father, Eric the Red, carved history by establishing the first Norse settlement in Greenland, far beyond the reaches of Europe.
The American continent owes its present state to the migration of people from Europe. Going further back, human existence might have been confined to the African continent without migration.
Around the close of the 10th century and the dawn of the 11th century AD, while en route from Iceland to Greenland, the ship carrying Leif Eriksson vanished in a tempest.
Driven by the storm, Eriksson and his crew found themselves unexpectedly navigating the waters to North America.
Eriksson, a European, set foot on the American continent almost five centuries prior to Columbus.
Archaeological remnants of ancient Norse presence in North America authenticate this historical voyage.
Examining contemporary news on immigration, the parallels between Eriksson’s tribulations and the struggles of present-day migrants are apparent.
Whether aspiring to reach Lampedusa Island in Italy from the coasts of Tunisia and Libya in Africa, Lesbos in Greece from the Turkish coastline, or Indonesia from the shores of Bangladesh, the shared essence of hardship resonates.
The progress of science has also influenced human migration. In the era predating horses, humans traversed distances on foot.
The domestication of horses some 5,000 years ago in the expansive Eurasian grasslands marked a revolutionary shift in migration.
A prevailing theory suggests that the Yamnaya people, riding these horses, disseminated their Bharopeli culture from Europe to India through migration.
Subsequently, the invention of the wheel further eased migration. In contemporary times, with the advent of vehicles like ships, trains, and cars, the act of moving from one place to another has become notably less challenging.
Since the dawn of evolution, humans have journeyed for hunting, gathering fruits, tubers, and seeking drinking water.
Historical migrations occurred for various reasons such as finding suitable living spaces, fertile pastures for resources, and opportunities for trade.
Whether escaping conflicts, facing environmental challenges, or seeking better living conditions, historical human migrations spanned continents, influencing language, culture, and civilization.
Linguists attribute the spread of Varopeli culture and language to Europe and India to human migration.
From countries like Nepal, grappling with a lack of job opportunities, to the Gulf nations facing a scarcity of human resources, and to Australia and America in pursuit of superior education, individuals migrate from Africa, plagued by famine, to prosperous Europe.
The Turks traversed from Central Asia to Anatolia, Greeks expanded their civilization through immigration and Alexander’s military campaigns, and the Austronesian language-speaking tribes diffused their cultural influence from Hawaii to Madagascar.
Without human migration, Iceland, uninhabited until the ninth century, would resemble Antarctica today.
The American continent owes its present state to the migration of people from Europe. Going further back, human existence might have been confined to the African continent without migration.
Historical human migrations occurred without boundaries or restrictions, with large groups traveling with their families, livestock, skills, language, and culture.
Coexistence prevailed among different groups, as conflicts were resolved in accordance with the laws of nature.
However, the modern world operates on the principle of the ‘Nation State.’ Countries have defined borders, and stringent measures such as passports and visas regulate entry. Unlike the past, countries today often resist the influx of people across their borders, shaping a global landscape where migration is subject to elaborate bureaucratic processes.
Bridge Between Eras: Unveiling the Continuities in Migration
Nevertheless, striking similarities persist between past and contemporary migration.
In ancient times, people embarked on journeys in pursuit of abundant resources and opportunities, mirroring the current trend where individuals migrate in search of favorable resources and opportunities.
In the past, populations migrated towards regions abundant in forests and wildlife for hunting.
Recent news showcases the desperate situation of Afghans rushing to leave the country as the Taliban seized power. Nepal, too, has provided refuge to Bhutanese and Tibetans expelled from their countries.
Cattle roamed from wooded areas to expansive grasslands and from deserts to riverbanks for grazing—a reflection of the necessities of survival during that era.
As time has evolved, so have human needs. Present-day migrations are fueled by the quest for employment, quality healthcare, educational opportunities, and an enhanced quality of life.
From countries like Nepal, grappling with a lack of job opportunities, to the Gulf nations facing a scarcity of human resources, and to Australia and America in pursuit of superior education, individuals migrate from Africa, plagued by famine, to prosperous Europe.
Historically, people fled conflict-ridden areas, and this pattern endures today. Whether escaping war or unrest, individuals seek refuge in other countries, often culminating in refugee status.
Reflecting on history, Germans from Eastern Europe entered the Roman Empire due to persistent conflicts with the Huns, eventually capturing Rome in 476 AD.
Similarly, contemporary conflicts prompt people to flee their homelands, exemplified by the Rohingya escaping Myanmar’s war to reach Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and even as far as Nepal.
Although the world no longer practices slavery, clandestine human trafficking for labor or the sex trade persists.
Globalization has reduced the necessity for physical relocations in business, yet some individuals relocate themselves or their companies to evade taxes or conceal assets.
Despite the abolition of slavery, and the facilitation of business through globalization, migration endures in the modern era due to an inability to endure unrest, violence, and injustice.
Recent news showcases the desperate situation of Afghans rushing to leave the country as the Taliban seized power. Nepal, too, has provided refuge to Bhutanese and Tibetans expelled from their countries.
Even in the absence of unrest and violence in Nepal, the trend of people ‘rebeling’ towards America and Europe persists.
Unraveling the reasons behind this ongoing phenomenon remains a subject ripe for exploration and research.
Comment