TODAY.AZ / World news

Seeking destination: Armenia faces new migration realities

25 May 2016 [12:44] - TODAY.AZ

/By Azernews/

By Gunay Camal

"We are on the verge of death. People live in poverty, they have been turned into slaves, it can not last long, it will be followed by discontent and protests, and then the revolution. No normal Armenian would stay in this country for an extra day if given the option to emigrate.”

This view of a young Armenian guy interviewed by local media echoed the findings of the recent polls, which showed that 60 percent of all Armenians want to leave their country and settle abroad. The polls were perceived by many to be the beginning of the end as the official data also shows the miserable picture.

Last year, the population of Armenia fell below the level of 3 million for the first time in nearly 40 years, according to the Armenian Statistics Agency. In 2015, the country’s population decreased by 12,000 people, while during the last five years it decreased by 35,000 people, and since gaining independence in 1991 by 634,700 people. Thus, based on the 2011 census, 2.9 million people live in the country as of January 1, 2016.

These figures should be the clear-cut warning to the ruling elite and policy makers, but the government only seems “fighting” against this trend.

Over 1.5 million people left Armenia since the country gained its independence in 1991. Groundless territorial claims for the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and aggressive policy with regard to neighbors have paralyzed the country both economically.and politically. The emigration rate still continues to alarm observers.

Some have referred to it as a crisis, a disaster, and a serious threat to the nation. But ordinary people only want to live. In case of Armenia, people migrate when they fail to find livelihood opportunities on their own soil and are left with no other options for livelihood.

Also cited as reasons to emigrate were corruption and monopolies in the business sector, the level of independence of the courts, and problems in the education system.

Maybe most surprising, two-thirds of those emigrating, or considering doing so, are young people with basic desires—food, good schools and a job.

In its recent article, Armenian media outlet ‘Aravot’ showed a miserable, actually an apocalyptic picture of the current situation in Armenia caused by migration.

The author quite reasonably points out that in case the migration continues with this trend then in Armenia there will be only elderly and poor people, who cannot leave and can barely make ends meet with a meager pension. “Of course, a group of billionaire oligarchs will still be in Armenia,” the author says.

The economic chaos and migration, however, is making the situation in provinces even worse - washing out already empty villages and triggering fears of hopelessness. Locals continue to suffer without jobs, adequate social services and help.

“In the villages of Armenia, one can also see an “active” emigration. Here live mostly older people, who are regarded as the second-class citizens. They have sent the young abroad with the hope for better life and hope of some earning. We have tried to live one day in the village.. .there was no anyone in the streets, no children, no youngster. In the evening, only 2-3 lights are on in the villages where 150-200 people used to live. Darkness and silence leave a lasting impression. "

The author, recognizing that emigration has become the biggest tragedy of Armenian people, urged to prevent the disaster with "joint efforts of the government and people."

The Armenian government meanwhile, is too busy with political battles and constant provocations against Azerbaijan, to see the migration realities.

Recently, a very cynical proposal was voiced by MP Tevan Poghosyan, who offered to create "a donor bank of sperm of recruits", who have been sent to fight in the occupied lands.

At a time when mothers of the dead soldiers urge the government to stop its aggression, when thousands of young Armenians leave the country or even commit suicide just because they does not want to fight for protecting the occupied territories, the MP’s proposal shocked observers.

Instead of ending the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and eliminating the risk of self destruction of Armenian citizens, and fighting corruption and theft on a national scale with a view to stop the exodus of the population and young people, the country’s rulers voice barmy offers.

Along with the trend of increasing emigration, the birth rate in Armenia is declining. The results of UNFPA’s 2009 study show that 68.3 percent of the 1,139 survey respondent families said they are not planning on having a second child, while 16.4 percent are and 13.6 percent could not answer the question. Financial issues and a feeling of uncertainty towards the future were the main reasons the respondents were reluctant to have children.

Garik Hayrapetyan, UNFPA Armenia Assistant representative, talking to media, recently stated that after the 2008 crisis, the situation worsened in demography. The migration balance again became negative and amounts to about 30,000 people a year.

Demographer Ruben Yeganyan believes that the Armenian population would be 4.3 million instead of current 2.8 million if migration was eliminated.

“Following the latest census, the number of our resident population is of 3.2 million people, while the existing population is of 2.8 million,” he said adding that over the next 50 years, the population may decrease by 1.5 million people.

Yeganyan said migration in Armenia has become an endless process since the 1990s, adding that the country suffers from a ‘chronic disease’ that causes emigration.

“We have created a sick country, sick state, a chronically sick and migration is the result of this sickness,” he said.

The most dangerous fact is that some regions of Armenia, according to official statistics, have turned into areas with aging populations. Armenia media cites the Tavush region, where the natural population growth was only 5 percent, as a ‘bright’ example. That is, in a region with a population of 125,000 people, the number of births was higher only 5 than the number of deaths. Lori, Syunik and Vayots Dzor regions are also on the brink of the zero growth.

Difference between births and deaths in Armenia, that is the rate of natural increase in 2015 was 12,980 people. This index decreased by 8.7 percent compared to 2014, reports Armenpress. What refers to born alive, then in 2015 they amounted to 41,815 people which decreased by 2.8 percent as compared with 2014. The population growth rate was the lowest since 2008. That is, the population is inexorably aging.

All the above mentioned prove that people leaving Armenia, are not in search of better life, they are looking for opportunities to survive at all. Wherever they go everywhere will be better than Armenia, because it cannot be worse.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/151061.html

Print version

Views: 1665

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: