Refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees constitute a sizeable population in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. These populations are often vulnerable to poor health due to the conditions in which they live in and with limited access to quality health care. In addition, those who can access care are often faced with financial hardship. Some migrants are not included in national programmes for health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and care, or in financial protection schemes for health, social services and social protection.
“Vision 2023”, developed to guide the work of WHO in the Region, acknowledges the socioeconomic diversity, opportunities and challenges facing this Region and calls for solidarity and action to promote “Health for All by All”. In line with “WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019-2023”, Vision 2023 has identified universal health coverage (UHC) as a top strategic priority for the Region, including refugees and migrants, and regardless of migratory status. UHC is also high on the political agenda of countries who are formulating strategies to expand coverage to their entire populations, not limited to only their citizens.
The refugee and migrant health programme aims to support countries by addressing the health and well-being of refugees and migrants in an inclusive and comprehensive manner and as part of holistic efforts to respond to the health needs of the overall population in any given setting. To achieve this, it promotes: mainstreaming refugees and migrants within the UHC platform to maximize access to quality health services without financial hardship throughout the migration route; ensuring effective implementation of essential public health functions; and improving the social determinants that affect health outcomes of refugees and migrants alongside host communities.
Publications
Refugee and migrant health country profile - Jordan
Videos
Related links
Third Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants
13-15 June 2023 | Rabat, Morocco
Second high-level interregional meeting on the health of refugees and migrants
16-17 March 2023 | Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh
Regional training course on refugees and migrants’ health in the eastern Mediterranean region
WHO Headquarters
WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health
WHO EURO
International Organization for Migration (IOM) MENA
United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) MENA
https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/middle-east-and-north-africa.html
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Contact us
Dr Ali Ardalan
Regional Adviser and Head of Health systems in Emergencies
Email:
Dr Tonia Rifaey
Technical Officer, Refugee and Migrant Health
Email:
