E/CN.4/2006/73/Add.2 page 12 49. Owing to its long tradition of emigration, Burkina Faso for a long time was the country in the region which benefited most from these international transfers. In 2000 the total amount of funds repatriated by Burkina Faso nationals living abroad was greater than all foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Owing to the drop in FDIs and other sources of foreign currency, migrant fund transfers have become a dominant factor, representing about 3 per cent of gross domestic product and 20 per cent of export revenues.11 50. In a country affected by extreme poverty, which, according to the UNDP,12 has one of the lowest human development indices in the world, the large drop in the amount of funds transferred back by Burkina Faso nationals living in Côte d’Ivoire to their country of origin has sparked off a real economic crisis. In addition a major humanitarian crisis has been caused by the mass return and the socio-economic resettlement of returnees. 2. Loss of documents 51. Many Burkina Faso nationals have either lost or been deprived of their identity documents, some of which, for instance, were burnt on their way back from Côte d’Ivoire. For these migrants, access to a number of basic rights, such as the right to education or to social security, then becomes extremely difficult or is even excluded, and they are prevented from claiming their rights in Côte d’Ivoire. For Burkina Faso nationals born in their own country, having identity documents reissued appears to be easier thanks to the availability of records in the country. For Burkina Faso nationals born in Côte d’Ivoire, on the other hand, reconstituting personal records appears to be much more laborious. The loss of documents raises serious problems in terms of ensuring socio-economic rights, especially with regard to employment and social security. For instance, the partnership between social security funds in Burkina Faso and those in Côte d’Ivoire is not operational. Many wage earners who left Côte d’Ivoire without being properly documented cannot have access to social security services, even though they may have paid in contributions over many working years in Côte d’Ivoire. Similar problems arise with pensions. Since 1963 the two countries have reached an agreement to provide pensions for their citizens, based on contributions paid in either country. The Special Rapporteur points out, however, that many returnees have lost their documents, which makes it difficult to reconstitute their records and even more so to protect their benefit entitlements. 52. The local authorities of Ouahigouya told the Special Rapporteur that they were awaiting instructions from the central administration on how to settle this kind of problem. In this respect the Government reports that the administration has provided guidance regarding the restoration of civil status documents, such as the birth certificates of children born in Côte d’Ivoire, so as to enable them to gain admittance to the school system in Burkina Faso. 3. Employment and social security 53. The population of Côte d’Ivoire returnees is relatively young, with 33 per cent under the age of 15.13 About 50 per cent of returnees are aged between 20 and 40 and most of these between 20 and 24.