- increase,
- decrease,
-
contsant).
STOWAWAY PROBLEM AREAS
The chart below was produced using information
that has been collected over eight years, and highlights long-term trends
in stowaway nationalities between 1989 and 1997. The second two charts however,
are based on information gained in 1998, and therefore represent that year's
high-risk areas. Beside each chart is a list of countries in order of risk,
and an icon which highlights changes in stowaway numbers
( - increase,
- decrease,
-
contsant).
Long-Term
(1989 - 1997)
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As can be seen from the map, between 1989 and 1997 the highest stowaway generating nation was Tanzania, which had a fifty percent greater number of stowaways per annum than Morocco, the second highest ranked nation in the table. Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia were also high-risk areas where large numbers of stowaways constantly tried to migrate to other countries.
Due to the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990 and the ensuing war between Croatia and Slovenia, the former Yugoslavia was the first European country to enter the above table. The only other European stowaways we have recorded are from Turkey, Albania, Romania and Belarus.
Although our records state that stowaways board vessels from a large variety of countries (including two from St. Lucia, and one Tanzanian from Tilbury, Essex) it is clearly obvious that the poorer less developed nations of Africa present the most risk.
Short-Term
(January 1998 - June 1998)
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Apart from the problems with Tanzania and Morocco, the figures for the first half of 1998 show a different trend in stowaway nationalities. In particular there was a large increase in the number of stowaway's exiting Iran and Iraq, and an unusually high number from Russia. Whilst Tanzania and Morocco were still leading the table, there was a drop off in some of the other African nations such as Cameroon, Algeria and Nigeria. Although Tanzania was still the source of a large proportion of stowaways, the number of immigrants departing the country by sea dropped in proportion to last years figures; possibly as a result of changes in immigration law implemented by the Tanzanian magistrate's court in Dar es Salaam.
In the first half of 1998 there were far fewer recorded cases of European stowaways, and due to the improved relations between Bosnia and Slovenia, according to our figures the former Yugoslavia ceased to represent a high-risk stowaway area.
Short-Term
(June 1998 - December 1998)
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Despite the magistrate's court in Dar es Salaam altering immigration law in early 1998 Tanzania was still the major stowaway problem area in Africa. Harsh fines and prison sentences did not seem to influence individuals intent on leaving the country, and it remains to be seen whether this type of practise will ever reduce the stowaway problem in Tanzania.
Moroccan immigrants were still leaving their homeland in large numbers, with many people willing to risk the dangers of stowing-away, or trying to cross the Mediterranean in crowded rowing boats. Due to on-going problems with smugglers operating in the North West African area, there was also a recent increase in the number of Algeria stowaways.
Although there was a continuing flow of stowaways from both Tanzania and Morocco, the latter half of 1998 saw a reduction in individuals exiting Iran, Iraq and Russia, and despite the troubles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo there were few stowaways from the Congo Basin or Angola.
To see figures for 1999 please click here.
