The 2013 World Migration Report released, paints a gloomy picture of migrants well-being

IOM Regional Director Ashraf El Nour launches the book

The World Migration Report 2013 has been launched in Nairobi by the and for the first time presents a global picture of the well being of migrants. 

The Report was launched on Wednesday September 18, 2013 by the Regional Office for East and Horn of Africa of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) led the Regional Director  Ashraf El Nour.

The findings contained in the report are based on a Gallup World Poll which surveyed 25,000 migrants in over 150 countries. The report takes a fresh look at the life of the migrants across the world both migrating to the rich North and the poor countries of the South.

Nour said the findings in the report will be discussed at the 2013 United Nations General Assembly High Level Dialogue on International Migration in New York from October 3-4.

“There is need to look again at migration in a more holistic way,”said IOM Director General William Lacy Swing, in a statement released at the launch.

Contrary to common belief, migration is not just a South-North phenomenon. In fact, less than half of all migrants worldwide move from developing to developed countries,” Swing said.

According to the report, adult migrants moving South North represent only 40% of the global. About 33%of migrants move between countries in the South, 22% between countries in the North and 5% from the North to the South.

The report investigates the impact on migrations on the migrants, their levels of satisfaction compared to the local population, access to jobs or business and state of health.

Migrants from all regions have mixed experiences but the report indicates that migration improves the well-being of especially move to the North. In all cases, most migrants are dissatisfied with their lives than the native born population.

IOM Regional Director El Nour speaks at the forum

The launch was attended by a number of Kenyan officials from the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Foreign Affairs. Also present were diplomats based in Nairobi representing the US, France, Japan, Germany, Canada and officials from UNDP and United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

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