Migration and health news from around the WHO European Region.

Migration and Health Newsletter

March 2024

First Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health to be held in Malta in April

16–18 April 2024, Valetta, Malta

WHO/Europe in collaboration with the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing of Malta is hosting the first Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health, in Malta on
16–18 April 2024. The Forum will bring together Member States and a wide range of partners to

• share and exchange knowledge and best practices around health and migration; 
• discuss and reflect on common challenges and opportunities;
• identify key partnerships for joint interventions across countries of origin, transit, destination; and
• connect and forge new initiatives.

Stakeholders from countries of origin, transit and destination will participate in the Forum to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information across migration routes. The Forum in 2024 will be the first of a regular series, which WHO/Europe will continue over the next years.

More info

EURO Member States and WHO/Europe promote migrants' health in regional review of the Global Compact for Migration

11 March 2024, Geneva, Switzerland

EURO Member States and WHO/Europe participated in the regional review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, promoting the right to health for all, including migrants.

On the agenda were among other topics: 

• improving migrants’ access to basic services including health care 
• continuity of care
• intercountry and interregional collaboration.

The Global Compact for Migration was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to  improve the governance of migration, address the challenges associated with today’s migration and strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.  

The new Action plan on refugee and migrant health 2023–2030 for the WHO European Region, adopted by EURO Member States last year, supports the implementation of the Global Compact.  

More info
Factsheet. The health of refugees and migrants in the WHO European Region

“Tears cleanse our souls like water cleanses our body” 

4 March 2024, Hungary

Millions of people from Ukraine remain displaced across Europe, approximately 65 000 in Hungary. Retiree Olga Dziuba and her family from Odesa, Ukraine, are among them. She says: “Everything changed overnight. My psychologist says that tears cleanse our souls like water cleanses our body. So sometimes I allow myself to cry, and I feel better.” Read more about Olga's and her family's story here. 

The national health systems of many refugee-receiving countries are providing services to large numbers of displaced people. To help countries to manage the situation, WHO is working with national authorities. To continue its support, last October, WHO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) initiated a new joint 2-year project aiming to improve access to health-care services for refugees and displaced people from Ukraine. 

Behavioural and cultural insights on health care access among Ukrainian refugees from five neighbouring countries  

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 led to the displacement of millions of people from Ukraine to neighbouring countries.

To understand and document access to health services from the refugee perspective, WHO/Europe, governments and key partners conducted qualitative studies of Ukrainian refugees in Czechia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The findings are now available and offer key insights on service needs, access and uptake among refugees from Ukraine in the five countries.

How community celebrations contribute to refugee resilience

22 December 2023, Krakow, Poland

Social inclusion allows people to fully participate in their community and fosters peaceful societies. WHO supports civil society organizations to build their capacity in helping refugees to strengthen their resilience.

As one example, the Zustricz Foundation brings together Ukrainians and Poles living in Krakow, Poland. Founded in 2014, the organization helps to support the Ukrainian community in Poland. Zustricz runs cultural events to promote cultural understanding between the Polish and Ukrainian communities. For Christmas, Polish and Ukrainian children came together to meet St Niklas and held a celebration. 

Hope & health: Ukraine's refugees in Romania

19 December 2023, Romania

As millions of people fled Ukraine, Romania opened its borders, offering refuge. The Romanian Government swiftly granted refugees from Ukraine access to vital health care and various essential services. WHO Romania assembled a dedicated team of bilingual Romanian general practitioners, fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, to serve these refugees. This initiative has greatly enhanced access to health care for the Ukrainian community in Romania, ensuring they receive the support and care they need during this challenging time.

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