13/09/21
Events
Our director, Prof. Karl Blanchet, will moderate the panel “Lancet Migration European Regional Hub: Accelerating research for climate change-related migration health” at this year’s 12th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH). The conference is an opportunity to connect, share ideas and identify new ways to improve migrant health.
Launched in June 2021 and cohosted by the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, the Lancet Migration European Regional Hub aims to bring together researchers, civil society, non-governmental bodies, multilateral organisations, policymakers, and migrants themselves across the region to encourage the development of regional research projects and link academia with policy and practice to translate evidence into action.
One of the core research priorities for Lancet Migration is climate change, migration, and health nexus. It is well recognised that climate change is detrimental to planetary health, and disproportionately affects those most vulnerable. Faced with natural disasters, conflict, changing temperatures and affected agriculture practices, people are being increasingly displaced from their homes. Food security, the spread of vector-borne diseases, access to water, sanitation and hygiene, and mental health are some of the many health issues encountered as a result of climate change-related migration. Since 2013, the European Union has identified climate change-related migration as a health policy issue. However, few focused research initiatives have evolved. It is not well understood to what extent health is impacted and how access to health services can be improved in the European Region in response to climate-driven migration. This interactive panel discussion will explore research gaps and opportunities surrounding the health challenges and effects relating to climate change-related migration.
Panel
Dr Rita Issa, Lancet Migration Research Fellow, Climate Change Migration
& Health
Professor Ilan Kelman, Disasters and Health at University College London.
Dr Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health.
Dr Soumyadeep Banerjee, Regional Migration, Environment and Climate
Change Specialist, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional
Office for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
More information on the panellists is available here.