Mapping Children on the Move within Africa Chapter 4 ROUTES, MEANS, TRANSITS AND DESTINATIONS OF CHILDREN ON THE MOVE This chapter covers routes, means, transit and destinations in light of mixed migration i.e cross-border movement of children fleeing conflicts, persecutions, children being trafficked or smuggled and those in search for better life opportunities. According to UNICEF about 5.4 million refugees originate from African countries with children being ‘disproportionately represented among them’304 i.e constituting about 3 million. The cross-border movemement of children along the routes discussed below also takes into account the fact that the population of internally displaced persons in Africa by 2016 was 12.6 million (as stated earlier) which includes children IDPs. Movement of children is influenced and largely responds to the various drivers of such movement.305 Most of the research identify migration routes from Africa to countries outside Africa. According to Sambo & Terenzio, the routes taken by migrant children are not randomly selected but are influenced by activities in which the children intend to be engaged in.306 Often, a route is taken after a period of planning and preparation.307 Movement from various parts of Africa takes different routes. According to RMMS, movement within the Horn of Africa and out of the region is dynamic and mainly follows three main routes; the western/northern route; the eastern route; and the southern route. 308 In addition to the routes within the Horn of Africa, the West and Central Africa into North Africa route and West Africa route are considered. 4.1 Routes within the Horn of Africa and out of the region 4.1.1 Western/Northern Route The Northern/Western route is used by people moving from the East and Horn of Africa as well as other parts of Africa to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.309 Depending on the source the route is known as either northern or Western route.310 Mainly the Western route starts in Eritrea, Ethiopia, or Somalia via Sudan, and for others, either ends in Libya or proceeds towards Europe by crossing the Mediterranean (referred to as ‘Central Mediterranean’ route by the European border agency).311 To reach Libya, and Europe ultimately, people migrating from East and Horn of Africa follow a series of particular hubs or places. The key transit state for children following this route is Sudan.312 Children moving from the Somaliland pass through Hargeisa to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.313 From Ethiopia they have three options to reach Khartoum: some move from Addis Ababa through the Metema, at the border of Sudan; others move from Addis Ababa through Humera, on the border 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 UNICEF, Uprooted The Growing Crisis For Refugee And Migrant Children (2016) https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Uprooted_Executive_Summary_Sept_2016.pdf accessed 10 November 2018 p 5. MH Sambo & F Terenzio, Children on the move: A different voice (2013). As above. As above. RMMS (n 272 above) p19. K Marchand et al, Study on Migration Routes in the East and Horn of Africa, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (2017) p IX. As above p 24. RMMS (n 272 above) p19. Marchand (n 312 above) p 24. As above. 59