Sending money home in conflict settings: revisiting migrant remittances
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2022-06-02
DOI
Authors
Version
Accepted manuscript
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Vast amounts of money are transferred around the world through remittances—contributions that migrants send to their families, relatives, and friends in their countries of origin. Remittance flows have continued to be resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic, with officially recorded volumes reaching $548 billion for low and middle-income countries in 2020.1 While remittances associated with economic migration have attracted significant attention, less is known about such money transfers in conflict-affected settings. Violent conflict and poverty contribute to each other, often blurring the boundaries between economic migration and forced displacement.2 Conflicts may be accompanied by displacement of large numbers of population within a relatively short time, posing challenges to remittance transfer systems between the countries of origin and destination. Refugees often end up in displacement camps and other protracted situations of uncertainty that may further impair their ability to remit. Despite the challenges, remittances frequently remain a primary source of economic support for those left behind, as well as for national development of post-conflict countries. Therefore, situations in the wake of recent conflicts are known for heightened remittance flows.3 As a large share of the remittance flows in conflict settings occurs through informal channels, the importance of remittances in these economies has often been underestimated.