Changes in the human migration patterns in the Maramures region (Romania - Ukraine)

Nicolae Boar

doi:10.4000/belgeo.12492

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the changes in human migration patterns in the Maramures region during the last decade. The term “Maramures region” refers to the historical Maramures County, in the Northern sector of the South-Eastern Carpathians, encompassing the superior basin of the Tisa river. After WWI, the region was divided into two distinct sectors, presently belonging to Romania and Ukraine. However, the unitary natural environment, a common history and their peripheral position justify a unified approach to the issue of human migration patterns. Before 1990, due to specific human and natural factors, the mobility pattern was characterized by seasonal agricultural work migrations. Due to the opening of new opportunities after 1990, internal agricultural migration was transformed into international work migration. Herein, we present statistical data acquired through fieldwork for two villages in the Romanian sector: Barsana and Sapanta. International migration rates in 2001 were, correspondingly, 6.4% and 4.8%. With respect to migration directions, the ease of communication in the destination country for lower educated persons plays a vital role.

Highlights

Patterns, while ethnic differences and the affiliation to different countries give specific traits to human mobility patterns in the two sectors
The most obvious observation made is that seasonal work migrations involve a significant percentage of the population
11 These are characteristic of the Maramures region, both sectors having negative migration rates

Summary

Introduction

10 Local and regional statistic departments in both countries do not collect seasonal migration data and the only source of information is fieldwork. The lowest rates correspond to the Hust department (-1.6‰), where the homonymous city is the largest of the whole region and still attracts a proportion of people leaving rural areas. Immigration is due to the city of Sighet that attracts part of the rural population, and to a migration flux from isolated villages towards the more accessible Tisa corridor. The highest population loss took place in the Viseu valley, due to a strong reduction in industrial output after 1990 in the cities of Borsa and Viseu de Sus. 13 At the Maramures County level, 54% of migration was internal and 67% of internal migration was from rural to urban areas. The German minority started to emigrate during the communist regime, the process being completed in the 1990s At present, in both sectors, the strongest emigration flux is of the Hungarian minority towards Hungary. In the troubled period at the beginning of 1945, representatives of the Red Army tried to extend the Ukrainian administration south of the Tisa River, but a revolt of the Romanian majority led to a restoration of the Romanian administration

17 Today we distinguish two types of international migrations

26 The destination of the migrations was mainly the Latin countries

28 Useful information can be extracted by looking at how earnings were spent

Findings

Conclusions