Migration and Health

In order to guarantee humanitarian assistance to Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Roraima, Venezuela's main gateway to Brazil, the federal government created Operation Welcome in 2018.

A large humanitarian task force executed and coordinated by the federal government with the support of federal entities, UN agencies, international organisations, civil society organisations and private entities, totalling more than 100 partners, the Operation offers emergency assistance to Venezuelan refugees and migrants entering Brazil via the border with Roraima.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Portugal granted temporary residence status to more than 350 000 migrants, providing them full access to health care and social support. During this time, Portugal also granted universal access to COVID-19 vaccinations, vaccinating 600 000 migrants, including people without documentation.

A new law has recently come into force in Finland that expands health care for undocumented migrants living in the country. Under this law, undocumented people can now access necessary care ñ that is, care that health care professionals deem necessary.

The document provides practical examples on how migrants are included in the provision of services in the field of health, housing, ducation, vocational training, and basic public services such as water and sanitation. A dedicated section of the report, also includes examples of multi-sector migrant services in the context of the pandemic of COVID-19.

This publication is a compendium of 49 country examples highlighting efforts in improving refugeesí and migrantsí health following the adoption of the WHO Global Action Plan on Promoting the health of refugees and migrants at the seventy-second World Health Assembly, in May 2019.

To galvanize diaspora's engagement in COVID-19 response, IOM Washington, DC is implementing a project funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, with the ultimate goal to increase the reach and effectiveness of relief assistance to communities affected by the pandemic.

This action was submitted through the GFMD Mayors Mechanism Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.

This action was submitted through the GFMD Mayors Mechanism Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.

In Sfax, an underestimated number of migrants in Sfax were in need of information and access to health and social services when the epidemic of COVID-19 started. Many had lost jobs and were in need of support to livelihood. Their conditions worsened with the imposition of the lock-down. Additionally, the Municipality faced three key challenges:

- The absence of a national normative framework for the protection of migrants.

This action was submitted through the GFMD Mayors Mechanism Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.

The Welcoming San José Plan is a community-derived set of 23 strategies across four core pillars which aim to facilitate and accelerate immigrant inclusion in civic, economic, linguistic, and social aspects of life in San José and ensure that immigrants and refugees are engaged, respected, and have opportunities to reach their fullest potential.

The Four Pillars of the Welcoming San José Plan are:

This action was submitted through the GFMD Mayors Mechanism Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.