Migration, displacement and the environment

A perspective from the Middle East

Although increasingly recognised as a major driver of displacement globally, the impact of environmental change on migration and displacement remains underexplored in the Middle East. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimates that an average of at least 25.4 million people are displaced by ‘disasters triggered by natural hazards’ each year, a number that is expected to increase. While multiple analyses have linked climate change to the conflict in Syria, further study is needed to understand the complex relationships between environmental issues and migration in the region.

Download