Reintegration Assistance

Migration, involving the movement from one habitual residence to another, is an age-old phenomenon driven by economic, social, political, and environmental factors, categorized as pull and push factors. In The Gambia, high poverty and unemployment rates prompt many, especially youth, to migrate to the West seeking better opportunities. Many opt for irregular migration due to the difficulty of regular channels, facing risks and often inhuman treatment in transit countries. The IOM's AVRR program helps these migrants return and reintegrate. This book examines the reintegration assistance process for returned migrants in Gambia, focusing on four objectives: the trend of irregular migration and its costs, the types of reintegration assistance provided by IOM, the challenges faced during reintegration, and the impact of this assistance on the migrants. Using Qualitative Content Analysis, the study reveals that irregular migration is on the rise, with significant financial costs primarily borne by migrants and their families. IOM offers various reintegration supports, but challenges remain, commonly reported across different categories of respondents.