6. Beyond Emergencies: Towards a More Nuanced Understanding of the Various Impacts of Crises on Migrants

A number of recent conflicts and natural disasters have highlighted the particular vulnerability of migrants during crises in countries of destination and transit. A particular catalyst was the Libyan revolution of 2011 and the ensuing violence. In response to this and other crisis a specific initiative – the ‘Migrants in Countries of Crisis initiative’ (MICIC) was launched to address such situations. Designed as an informal process the Initiative aimed at developing guidance on how states and other stakeholders could address situations when migrants are caught by a humanitarian crisis in a destination or transit country. This chapter discusses the origins and focus of the initiative. Drawing on data gathered in a study comparing six crisis situations, the chapter highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of the impacts of crisis on migrants. The chapter shows that there are indeed specific challenges migrants face when confronted with a crisis. These relate to general policies (such as migration policies) shaping experiences during crisis, specific responses to emergencies and societal conditions, including attitudes towards migrants.