Health of Migrants in Crisis

IOM's Perspectives

Population movements following natural disasters, sudden onset or prolonged conflicts, climate change and environmental degradation often result in exposure of displaced persons including migrants, refugees and third country nationals as well as host communities to heightened health risks. Pre-existing health status, lack of immunity to existing or emerging diseases, emotional stress, overcrowding, lack of access to adequate shelter, clean water, poor sanitation, non-functioning services are factors that lead to increased health consequences particularly in the emergency phase.

IOM aims to strengthen and support national health systems and infrastructures to reduce avoidable mortality, morbidity and disabilities within the emergency, recovery and rehabilitation phases of the response. Health is an integrated and cross cutting component of IOM's humanitarian response. Vital activities include life saving primary health care provision through mobile or fixed clinics, provision of transitional or temporary health facilities and health revitalization, facilitating health referrals, medical evacuation, environmental health and health assistance for demobilized soldiers and families. As Camp Coordination Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster lead in natural disaster situations, IOM is in the position to link CCCM, Health, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) inter-cluster activities.

Guided by the 61st World Health Assembly Resolution on Health of Migrants (2008), IOM works with Member States and affected communities to "promote migrant-inclusive health policies and practices to promote equitable access to health promotion and care for migrants" including internal migrants, displaced and other vulnerable populations.

Main Programmatic Areas

Facts and Figures
As an active member of the Global Health Cluster and through its Crisis-Affected Populations Unit of the Migration Health Division (MHD), IOM engages with the in-country Health Cluster team, partner agencies, and national health authorities at planning and implementation levels. IOM coordinates closely with other trans-cluster coordination bodies such as the WASH, Protection, Early Recovery, and Inter-Agency Standing Committee Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group, as well as migrant communities and community-based organizations to ensure integrated health response programming.

IOM's Activities
During and in the aftermath of emergency or crisis events, IOM undertakes the following activities:

  • rapid community health needs assessments to identify gaps, available health services and resources;
  • provision of primary and community health-care services through mobile or fixed clinics;
  • support to local health referral systems, facilitated transfer and hospital discharge, cross-border or international medical evacuations to facilitate tertiary care for patients with complicated but potentially curable conditions;
  • health rehabilitation and health system revitalization;
  • public health and disease surveillance at the community level;
  • provision of medical equipment, health supplies, and kits for returning vulnerable groups, receiving communities and local health-care facilities;
  • mental health and psychosocial support services;
  • emergency displacement mental health and psychosocial capacity-building;
  • psychosocial needs assessments;
  • support to international medical teams, capacity building for local health staff;
  • health care during assisted movements and returns;
  • environmental, sanitation, mental, public health and psychosocial-focused activities and capacity building within Shelter and Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster activities;
  • HIV, tuberculosis, gender-based violence and reproductive health services, other types of care and support for crisis-affected populations; and
  • health and psychosocial programmes within the demobilization and integration of former combatants.

Selected Projects