Wednesday, 18 December 2024 – The theme of this year’s International Migrants Day – Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights – helps remind us of the positive contributions migrants make to the societies and countries that host them, the challenges they face in achieving their full potential and capabilities, and the urgent need for collective action to ensure that migration is as safe as possible. Despite political commitments and media attention, migrant deaths are on the rise: 2023 saw the highest annual death toll on record, with over 8500 deaths.
According to the United Nations, around 281 million people – 3.6% of the global population – are international migrants. Migration is a multifaceted phenomenon. The reasons people undertake – or are forced to undertake – often perilous journeys are complex. Increasingly, people are being displaced from their place of birth by conflict, political and economic instability, natural disasters and climate change.
In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territory are in the grip of devastating conflicts. More than 14 million Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes. Almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip has been displaced, many of them multiple times. Yemen is in the throes of a protracted emergency and faces a growing number of extreme weather events.
Natural and climate related disasters, including earthquakes, hit the Region with alarming frequency, upending the lives of millions. The Region’s arid and semi-arid climates, compounded by rising temperatures and pollution, exacerbate water scarcity and increase the severity of extreme weather events. Water shortages in fragile states such as Sudan and Yemen undermine agricultural production, further exacerbating vulnerabilities. In Iraq, the wave of displacement in Basra in 2024, during which over 24 500 families were displaced across 12 governorates, was driven by water stress and drought.
Climate change has severe health implications and migrants, who already face heightened risks, are particularly vulnerable. Climate change exacerbates heat stress, malnutrition and vector-borne diseases. It worsens air pollution. Extreme weather can cause severe, sometimes fatal, injuries.
Migrant populations also face mental health challenges. As events over which they have no control disrupt their livelihoods and communities, many migrants experience fear, grief, uncertainty and helplessness. Migrants can also face stigma, discrimination and violence from host populations, undermining their sense of belonging and cultural identity.
In response to these challenges, and acknowledging that the health consequences of climate change are not only a humanitarian concern but an economic one – to cite just 1 example, dust storms in the Eastern Mediterranean Region cost an estimated US$13 billion annually – the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to work together on projects such as Harnessing Synergies Between Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Reduction in Migrant-Inclusive Health System Responses, a joint initiative that aims to mitigate vulnerability to climate change in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. A monitoring framework has been established to track progress and provide support as the 3 countries strive to minimize the health impacts of climate change on migrants.
Advancing sustainable development is heavily dependent on policies that address the health needs of migrants, particularly in the context of climate change. Universal health coverage (UHC) plays a pivotal role in ensuring all migrants and refugees, regardless of their legal status or nationality, have access to quality, affordable health services. Collaboration between governments, NGOs and communities across the Region is crucial to integrating migrant health into climate-resilient health systems.
The partnership between WHO, IOM and UNDRR underscores their shared commitment to advancing UHC and addressing the health impacts of climate change on migrants.
International Migrants Day should remind all stakeholders – governments, NGOs, communities and individuals – that migration can be a powerful force for health, peace and prosperity, and that together, we can create a healthier future for all.
