Migration: a reality, not an emergency (shared by Fouad Kronfol)

Title: Migration: a reality, not an emergency
Author: The Lancet Migration European Regional Hub
Publication: The Lancet
Date: 19 June 2026

A very timely review by the Lancet of a major issue affecting millions, among them a considerable proportion being children and women. It is also apropos as the UN celebrates REFUGEE DAY. Good reading for many of our XUNICEF colleagues.

Click here for the article

Summary:

The article reviews recent trends in migration and forced displacement, showing that migrant and refugee numbers continue to rise due to conflict, climate change, and economic instability. It emphasizes that migrants are generally healthier than host populations on arrival but often experience worsening health because of poor living and working conditions, restrictive policies, and limited access to services. The authors argue that migration should be treated as a long-term structural reality requiring inclusive, rights-based health and social policies, rather than as an episodic emergency.

Quotes:

“Migration and forced displacement continue to rise, driven by conflict, climate change, and economic instability.”
“Most migrants are healthier than the host population when they arrive, but their health often deteriorates over time because of the conditions they face in countries of transit and destination.”
“Migration is not a temporary crisis to be managed at the borders, but a structural feature of our interconnected world that demands inclusive and long-term policy responses.”