Where Will Unemployment and Economic Instability Lead the Youth of Raparin?

Activist Ranj Pshdari Facebook Page

Screenshot taken from the video of more 200 youth from Raparin trapped in Libya.

The number of young people attempting to migrate to Europe via dangerous sea routes is increasing, raising serious concerns about the risks posed to the lives of citizens across the region, observers say.

According to media reports circulated since yesterday, more than 200 young people from the Pshder and Bitwen areas in the Raparin region of the Kurdistan Region have been trapped by human smugglers who are seeking to transport them to Europe through hazardous maritime routes. Although the youths appeared in a video denying the reports, activist Ranj Pshdari said on his Facebook page that the footage was recorded under pressure from the smugglers.

The Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies, in its latest English-language study on youth unemployment and rising migration from the Raparin region, highlighted the scale of the crisis. 

The study, titled “Fostering Sustainable Youth Employment in Raparin Administration: A Localized Policy Framework,” highlights the significant rise in youth unemployment, linking it to economic and institutional instability in the area. Researchers found that 31.38% of households in the region are living below the poverty line or experiencing severe economic hardship.

Based on a field survey of 462 young people, the research explores the causes of unemployment across multiple dimensions—economic, social, cultural, political, and legal. The findings indicate that lack of employment opportunities is a key driver of youth migration, with many respondents reporting that one or more members of their household have migrated abroad.



PUKMEDIA