Climate Change, Migration, And Zoonoses In The East And Horn Of Africa Region: A Call For Action
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
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Abstract: This technical brief investigates the relationship between climate change, migration, and zoonotic disease outbreaks in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of East Africa, particularly Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. It highlights how climate extremes such as droughts and floods drive mobility, intensify human?animal?environment interactions, and escalate zoonotic risks. The paper applies a One Health lens to climate mobility, stressing the importance of intersectoral integration for surveillance and policy response. It examines IGAD?s Transhumance Protocol and the Kampala Convention, calling for enhanced enforcement to protect pastoralists and displaced persons. The authors advocate for livestock-inclusive adaptation policies, mobility-sensitive public health frameworks, and regionally coordinated planning. Recommendations include cross-border monitoring, improved health infrastructure in mobile corridors, and gender-equitable early warning systems. The document contributes to a new understanding of health-related climate vulnerability, positioning mobile populations and their animals within resilience and disease prevention planning.