Beirut: The Global Health Institute (GHI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), convened a significant forum titled “Navigating the Climate-Health-Migration Nexus: A Forum for Bridging Policy, Research, and Action in MENA.” This event aimed to address the critical intersection of climate change, public health, and human mobility in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions, bringing together various stakeholders, including academic institutions, UN agencies, humanitarian actors, and civil society organizations.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, a significant outcome of the forum was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between GHI and IOM, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership focused on advancing research, policy, and joint action at the climate-health-migration nexus. Dr. Shadi Saleh, founding director of AUB GHI, emphasized the pressing health threats posed by climate change, particularly in fragile settings like many countries in the MENA region. He highlighted the inability of health systems across the region to absorb the compounded impacts of climate-related disease burdens, displacement, and social inequities. Nour El Arnaout, associate director at AUB GHI, presented the institute’s growing portfolio under the Cli-Health Program, focusing on justice, resilience, and vulnerable populations, and announced an upcoming online certificate on climate and health.
Dr. Michela Martini, senior regional thematic specialist on migration health at IOM MENA, pointed out that the intersection of climate, health, and migration is a defining challenge of our time and remains understudied, especially in regional contexts. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with academic institutions like AUB to generate evidence-based and locally grounded responses. Masako Ueda, regional climate action and mobility specialist at IOM MENA, stressed that climate change is a significant driver of displacement and health risks, disproportionately affecting migrants and displaced populations due to systemic vulnerabilities.
The forum featured two thematic panels. The first panel, moderated by Dr. Michela Martini, focused on evidence gaps and policy needs, with contributions from experts like Dr. Kenza Khomsi, Yara Mourad, Roula Majdalani, and Dr. Lucia Barcellini, who discussed regional cooperation, disaggregated data, and integration of migrants into national health systems. The second panel, moderated by Nour El Arnaout, discussed localizing the climate-health-migration nexus through community action. Participants like Nora Achkar, Kassem Chaalan, Abeer Abou Zaki, Pamela DiCamillo, and Fadi Dweik emphasized inclusive disaster risk reduction, youth leadership, and the gendered impacts of climate-driven displacement.
The event concluded with a video campaign “Voices on Climate Change and Health,” showcasing lived experiences from the Global South. Mathieu Luciano, head of the International Organization for Migration in Lebanon, underscored the importance of the GHI-IOM partnership in building resilient systems centered on migrants, urging immediate, collaborative action.