Assessment Overview. REACH, in the framework of a partnership with UNICEF, conducted an assessment of the profile, drive
Unaccompanied and Separated Children from Nigeria in Italy Sicily, May 2017
Assessment Overview
REACH, in the framework of a partnership with UNICEF, conducted an assessment of the profile, drivers and journey of refugee and migrant unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) who arrived in Italy in 2016 and 2017. This factsheet presents findings on UASC originating from Nigeria, who, as of April 2017, represent 8.4% of the total UASC population in Italy.1 This assessment is based on cluster level sampling of UASC in dedicated reception facilities across Sicily. In total, 68 UASC aged 15 to 17 from Nigeria were interviewed from January to May 2017 in 32 facilities. Results are statistically representative of the Nigerian UASC population in Sicily with a 90% confidence level and a 10% margin of error. Findings which relate to a sub-population of the overall Nigerian UASC sample may have a lower confidence level and should be treated as indicative only.
Reference Map Map 1: Proportion of UASC facilities assessed by province in Sicily
Education and Work Experience
Profile Proportion of children interviewed, by age and gender:
0+5+15
0%
55% 25%
0%
Map 2: Children’s areas of origin, Nigeria Chad
Kaduna
^ !
51%
Fluent
57%
33%
A little
26%
16%
Write
Not at all 17%
Primary languages spoken, by proportion of children interviewed:
Niger
Benin
Read
57+26+17 46 0 + 13 + 12 +
5%
17 16 15
55+25+0
15%
16+33+51
Reported ability of children to read and write in any language:
Age
1. Bini (Edo state language) 2. Igbo 3. Esan
46% 13% 12%
Abuja
Nigeria
children had reportedly been to school in their country 85% of of origin.
Benue Lagos % of Nigerian UASC by reported Region of Origin 1% - 4%
Edo Delta
12%
Imo Abia Akwa Rivers lbom
Cameroon
children had reportedly not been to school in their 15% of country of origin.
72%
Reported child’s caretaker in country of origin: 2. Extended family 3. Alone 4. Other caretaker
21%
5%
4%
Among these child’s caretakers:
• 66% were reported to be still in Nigeria. • 17% were reported to be dead.
1. Middle school 2. Primary school 3. High school
44+40+16
69%
69+21+5+4
1. Parent(s)
Reported level of schooling attended before migration:2 44% 40% 16%
43% of children reportedly worked prior to arriving in Italy. Most reported professions were: 1. Physical labour (construction work) 2. Low skilled service labour Girls were more likely to have worked prior to migration than boys.
For more information on this profile please contact: REACH Initiative:
[email protected]
REACH
Informing more effective humanitarian action
Unaccompanied and Separated Children from Nigeria in Italy Departures
Decision Making
Top five reported reasons for leaving Nigeria:3 26% 24% 22% 16%
9%
Reported desired destinations when leaving their country of origin:
46+33+2316t
46% Italy 33% Libya
2. Smuggler 3. People on the way 4. Family at home 5. Traditional media
16% Did not know
26% 19% 19% 14%
60%
of children interviewed reported they were the ones who decided to leave their country of origin.
67%
of children interviewed reported they were the ones who chose their desired destination at departure.
20%
of children interviewed reported they thought about the risks of the journey before deciding to migrate.
2% West Africa 3% Europe (unspecified)
31+26+19+19+14
26+0+24+0+22+16+9
1. Limited economic opportunities 2. Political or religiously motivated persecution4 3. Problems or violence at home 4. Separation from family 5. Generalised violence
Top five sources of information used to decide about the final destination:3,5 31% 1. Family/ friends at destination
Girls were more likely to have left Nigeria already planning to reach Italy, rather than a country in West or North Africa.
Girls were less likely to have thought about the risks of migration prior to leaving Nigeria.
Top five reported reasons for planned destination:3
Top five risks considered before deciding to migrate:3 1. Be killed
60%
2. Respect for human rights
13%
46%
3. Better education
11%
2. Be put in prison 3. Get hurt 4. Run out of money 5. Be kidnapped
4. International protection
8%
5. Family at destination
8%
Journey
of children changed their destination during their journey.
TTuu rr kk ee yy
II tt aa ll yy
SS yy rr ii aa LL ee bb aa nn oo nn TTuu nn iiss ii aa
M M oo rr oo cc cc oo
JJ oo rr dd aa nn
AA llgg ee rr ii aa
LL ii bb yy aa
SS aa uu dd ii AA rr aa bb ii aa EE gg yy pp tt
W W ee ss tt ee rr nn SS aa hh aa rr aa
M M aa ll ii
N N ii gg ee rr C C hh aa dd
SS uu dd aa nn
SS ee nn ee gg aa ll
LL ii bb ee rr iiaa
EE rr iitt rr ee
BB uu rr kk ii nn aa FF aa ss oo
G G uu iinn ee aa SS iiee rr rr aa LL ee oo nn ee
BB ee nn ii nn
Nigeria C C ôô tt ee dd '' II vv oo ii rr ee
C C ee nn tt rr aa ll AA ff rr iicc aa nn R R ee pp uu bb ll iicc
G G hh aa nn aa TToo gg oo
C C aa m m ee rr oo oo nn
Most reported countries where children stayed for more than one month during their journey:3
EE tt hh ii oo pp iiaa SS oo uu tt hh SS uu dd aa nn
39+38+16+15+10
G G rr ee ee cc ee SS pp aa iinn
G G aa m m bb ii aa
11%
Reported reasons for staying in Libya for more than one month:2
Map 3: Primary route taken from Nigeria to Italy
M M aa uu rr iitt aa nn ii aa
14%
1. Libya 94% 2. Niger 3%
of children left Nigeria traveling alone.
Primary route taken by Nigerian UASC from Nigeria to Italy
31%
UASC in transit
On average, children took eight months from leaving Nigeria until arriving in Italy.
83% 37%
60+46+31+14+11
38%
57+20+20+17+11
1. Better economic opportunities
To work for three months or more
39%
Kidnapped and imprisoned in Libya
38%
Waiting for smuggler
16%
To work for less than three months
15%
Ran out of money
10%
End notes 1 Italian Ministry of Labour, UASC Monthly Monitoring Report, April 2017. 2 School years were divided as follows: primary school: 1-5 years; middle school: 6-9 years; high school: 10-12 years. 3 Respondents could select multiple answer categories. 4 Defined in line with the 1951 Refugee Convention as persecution ’for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership to a particular social group or political opinion’. 5 Social media was not reported as a source of information.
For more information on this profile please contact: REACH Initiative:
[email protected]
REACH
Informing more effective humanitarian action