The Refugee Highway Partnership has urged African churches to be more involved in reducing unemployment, conflict and discrimination as a means of curbing irregular and dangerous immigration. Dr. Joe Bonga, who serves in the Refugee Highway Partnership Global Leadership team, said that the Church in Africa has the potential to be a transformative force in addressing the root causes of forced immigration.
Speaking to Christian Daily International, Bonga said that the Church should offer safe spaces, increase programs and opportunities to empower the youth “economically, challenge cultural norms, and strengthen advocacy and action networks within their local communities and country contexts.”
He said that the tragedy of forced displacement and immigration is impacting “a generation of African youth fleeing their homelands in millions in search of safety, dignity, and opportunity…. a tragedy set to double in 2025.”
The UN’s International Organisation for Migration reported that slightly over 250,000 migrants from West and Central Africa arrived irregularly in Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus by sea and land between 2017 and 2023. IOM uses the term "irregular migrants" to refer to movement of people that takes place outside the laws, regulations or international agreements to seek asylum which is not illegal but a human right.
In its 2023 report, IOM indicated that 2,191 migrants disappeared while trying to cross the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Sahara Desert between June and July of the same year, mainly linked to drowning, dehydration, or hypothermia.
A recent incident off the coast of Italy brought to light the precarious irregular movement of people to Europe from Africa. An 11-year-old Sierra Leonean girl was rescued after clinging to tyre tubes for three days in the Mediterranean. According to a BBC report, rescuers from Compass Collective, an NGO, heard her calls for help while on their way to another emergency.
The unnamed girl said she had set off with 44 people from Sfax, Tunisia but the boat they were in encountered a storm and sank. The rescuers believe all other occupants must have drowned. The girl was found suffering from hypothermia but is expected to recover at least physically from her ordeal.
UNICEF reported that at least 289 children are estimated to have died or disappeared attempting to cross the Mediterranean migration route from North Africa to Europe. This equates to nearly eleven children dying or disappearing every week as they search for safety, peace and better opportunities. With over 55,000 children having arrived in Europe in 2023, UNICEF highlights a 58% increase in the number of unaccompanied children.
According to Bonga, the girl’s account paints a heart-wrenching picture of desperation and tragedy that lays bare the desperation that compels countless young Africans to embark on perilous journeys.
“This is not an isolated incident but emblematic of a broader crisis,” said Bonga who acknowledges that while these issues are complex and multifaceted, the role of the Church - historically a cornerstone of African communities - has come under scrutiny as many young people feel abandoned by an institution that once was a beacon of hope, justice, and refuge.
While economic challenges, persecution, forced marriages, war and conflict and disasters have been the predominant factors driving irregular migration, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) notes that climate change has now led to some areas becoming unlivable adding to factors contributing to human mobility.
“When people are willing to take the risk of crossing the Mediterranean it is a testimony of their desperation. They know that there is a chance they might not survive, and they know they risk being sent back. But with an untenable situation in many of these people’s home countries, with conflict and hunger on the rise, they see no other options,” states an analysis from NRC.
RHP and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) are some of the ministries and organizations calling for a safe migration pathway. UMCOR recognizes that migrants are children of God and have a right to receive care regardless of their reasons for migrating and is pushing for churches and Christian networks to assist migrants.
