ABSTRACT

This article analyses the causes and effects of rural-urban migration in the Amhara Region, one of the nine national regional states of Ethiopia. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and questionnaires in the main destination towns and rural areas from which migrants predominantly originate. Rural-urban migration in Amhara is a multi-causal process. The study reveals food shortages resulting from landlessness and drought as the principal factor for rural-urban migration. Debt, information flow and exigent cultural conventions are also important factors. The income from migration enables rural households to supplement poor harvests, service debts and diversify their livelihood. Migration, however, contributes to the spread of disease, as well as socio-culturally undesirable habits producing dysfunctional families and other societal ills. Considering migration is a livelihood option for the rural poor, policy objectives should be to support returning migrants rather than manage its adversities.

摘要

本文分析了埃塞俄比亚的九个国家区域州之一的阿姆哈拉地区农村人口向城市迁移的原因和影响。通过访问主要来自移民的主要目的地城镇和农村地区，通过访谈，焦点小组讨论和问卷调查收集了数据。阿姆哈拉（Amhara）的城乡迁移是一个多因过程。该研究表明，由于无地和干旱造成的粮食短缺是农村向城市迁移的主要因素。债务，信息流和紧迫的文化习俗也是重要因素。移民收入使农村家庭能够补充收成不佳，偿还债务并实现生计多样化。但是，迁徙助长了疾病的传播，以及在社会文化上不受欢迎的习惯，导致家庭功能失调和其他社会疾病。考虑到移徙是农村贫困人口的生计选择，政策目标应是支持返回的移徙者，而不是应对其逆境。