The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts people at the center of all actions, particularly the most marginalized and disempowered, for the realization of societies that are more equitable and inclusive. It also acknowledges that migration carries a development potential, owing to migrants’ intellectual, cultural, human and financial capital, and their active participation in society. Being and staying healthy is a fundamental precondition for migrants to work, be productive, and contribute to the social and economic development of communities of origin and destination.

South Asia, home to around a quarter of the world’s population and 40% of the world’s poor, is being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The global response to the pandemic has focused mainly on containment of the contagion and “flattening the curve” through testing and strict social distancing, but these universal approaches fail to take account of resource limitations in countries in South Asia and ignore the realities of vulnerable populations, such as low-income migrants, internally displaced people (IDP) and refugees.

There is a dynamic and complex relationship between migration and health. Migration can lead to greater exposure to health risks, such as those migrant workers working in conditions of precarious employment with limited access to affordable health care. Migration can also be linked to improved health – for instance, after moving from a context of persecution and fear of violence to a safe environment.

Migration is a natural state of humankind and has been documented throughout history. Some people may flee violence and persecution, while others simply seek a better life. Although migration is often classified into these two basic categories, the reality is more complex and nuanced: people migrate for a myriad of interconnected cultural, economic, religious, ethnic, and political reasons. Depending upon the epoch, migration has been seen in a positive or negative light.

Featured in the audio podcast section is an interview with one of the authors of a study that examines the effectiveness of pre-entry active tuberculosis and post-entry latent tuberculosis screening among new-entrant migrants to the United Kingdom. This issue profiles several book chapters outlining the health commitments within the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and migration health governance.

In this issue, featured in the new audio podcast section are interviews with lead authors of two papers: first focused on the health issues associated with migration in the Solomon Islands and second on the challenges of assessing the international migrant stock. This issue also includes studies centered on the health status and safety of international migrant workers, the nutrition profile of Syrian refugee children before resettlement, the health situation of migrants in Europe, and the mental health and well-being of migrants.

Articles featured in the landmark UCL-Lancet Commission report on Migration and Health in December 2018 and feature research papers centering on tuberculosis and human mobility are profiled. Also, a study that summarizes the work done to address the legal obstacles that migrants face in accessing health services in the Greater Mekong Subregion countries and its impact on malaria elimination as well as a study looking at whether the risk of suicidal behaviour is increased in left-behind family members are presented.

The World Migration Report (WMR) 2020 InfoSheets provide a succinct overview of each of the 11 chapters in the Report. They provide an easy and quick way to get a sense of the topics and issues examined in WMR 2020. This one focuses on migration and health.

The World Migration Report (WMR) 2020 InfoSheets provide a succinct overview of each of the 11 chapters in the Report. They provide an easy and quick way to get a sense of the topics and issues examined in WMR 2020. This one focuses on migration and health.

There is a dynamic and complex relationship between migration and health. Migration can lead to greater exposure to health risks, such as those migrant workers working in conditions of precarious employment with limited access to affordable health care. Migration can also be linked to improved health – for instance, after moving from a context of persecution and fear of violence to a safe environment.