di Giacomo Terenzi
Cercare di descrivere e analizzare cause e conseguenze del fenomeno migratorio contemporaneo lungo la rotta centrale del Mediterraneo è un’impresa molto ardua. I flussi provenienti dall’Africa subsahariana e diretti verso il nostro continente sono sempre più complessi e cospicui. Le rotte che portano all’attraversamento del Mediterraneo sono molteplici, le spinte migratorie aumentano e la composizione per genere, età e status sociale dei migranti è in continuo cambiamento.
Abstract
The vast majority of migrants arrived in Europe during the last years, crossed the Mediterranean Sea after an irregular and extremely dangerous journey along the African desert. Migrants on the move are in many cases victims of trafficking, human rights abuses and violence. Their migration projects are often planned by transnational criminal networks that are increasing the States’ national security concerns. Through the description of the African contemporary migration routes towards Europe, the major difficulties encountered by migrants during the journey, as well as of their socioeconomic profile and future expectations upon arrival in Italy, the article highlights the need for more and better information, at the same time in the countries of origin, transit and destination. The analysis of the migrants’ flows aims at contributing to a more evidence-based discussion on migration, facilitating policy-makers in the reformulation of an efficient and long-lasting migration strategy.