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Described as a Ground Zero for climate change by the United Nations, the Sahel region hosts some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. Yet climate change is just one of the many challenges Sahelians’ are forced to contend with. The combination of climate change further compounded by the spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken to fight it, act as threat multipliers in some of the most crisis-affected communities globally.

New REACH report “Destined to Migrate”, in collaboration with the Mixed Migration Centre, looks at the culture of migration in Kayes, Mali, and its effect on people’s aspiration to migrate- contrasted by changes in the European Union’s migration policies. Findings show that migration aspirations are generally undeterred by restrictive migration policies, paving the way for more irregular travel.

The relation between refugees and migrants in mixed migration flows along the Central Mediterranean Sea route and the diaspora in Europe remains poorly understood. The present study challenges existing perceptions of the interaction between those who aspire to travel and those who have already made the difficult journey by exploring the reality of the relationship as reported by migrants and refugees themselves.

Medenine has become one of Tunisia’s main migration hubs. REACH assessment of the situation revealed that the challenges faced by refugees and migrants require acute attention. So far the response has been underwhelming, compounding their already existing vulnerabilities.