Urban Migration Case Study

Migration is the movement of people from one geographical location to another, involving permanent or temporary settlement. Since Homo erectus left Africa over a million years ago, the constant transfer of people between different countries has been continued. Because migration has a key human response to environmental, social, political, and economic changes (Hall, et al, 2010). Population dynamics happens over time and space on the population. The very reasons for the happening of change of population size, composition and distribution are migration, fertility, and mortality. Especially, migration has a direct effect on the geographic distribution of population. Migration (whether internal or international is one of the main factors that

For instance, in Ethiopia, the urban areas are more developed with somewhat greater potential of jobs and professional advancement and pleasant living-conditions in relative terms than in most of the rural areas. In addition, the rapid rate of urban population growth and the high concentration of population in towns and cities of the third world are associated with problems of allocation of scarce resources to expand urban services and facilities. Most of the policies or strategies of third world countries to reduce or reverse rural urban migration have rarely been successful (Hjerppe, 1998:6 and UN, 1990:31). One of the suggested reason for their failures is the formulation of polices without adequate knowledge and information about causes and consequences of migration (Operai, 1987 cited in Iussp, 1989:264). The main purpose of this study is to provide some, but important information for policy makers, administrators and academic institutions on the causes and consequences of rural-urban migration in the studying area. 1.2 Statement of the Problem

Ethiopia’s urban population is estimated at 16 percent in 2007 (CSA 2008), while in Western, Middle and Eastern Africa the urban population share in 2005 already reached 42, 40 and 22 percent, respectively (UN Population Division, 2009).

Many governments throughout the world have been implementing direct or indirect policies or programs ranging from integrated rural-urban development to planned redistribution through resettlement projects. However, most of the population distribution policy in general and migration polices in particular in developing countries has not been successful (Arowolo, 1988:44). The solutions to urban problems depend heavily on effective urban management and sound rural development policies (Cheema, 1993 and UN, 1995). Adequate understanding and knowledge on the causes and consequences of migration could be considered as a prerequisite for the effective urban management and the formulation and implementation of sound rural development policies. In Ethiopia, much has not been done to study the causes and consequences of rural-urban migration. However, on the subject a few have attempted to study the causes and consequences of urban-ward migration such as Shack (1973) in Addis Ababa, Mullenbach (1976) in Akaki Beseka, Bjeren (1985) in Shashemene, Kebede (1991) in Nazareth, Berhane (1993) in Awassa, Birru (1997) in Arbaminch, Gashaw (2002) in Kombolcha etc. “some of these studies are from the anthropological point of view and concentrated on Addis Ababa and the nearby towns”. The 2007 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: