From ruptures to fault lines: tracing the global impact of COVID-19 on migrants and rural development

Migrants are the quintessential global citizens, leaving their places of birth and moving across borders in search of new livelihoods and opportunities. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that in 2019 there were 272 million international migrants.

Ruptures caused by COVID-19 have exposed major fault lines and inequities in the system of global movement. Labor markets have ground to a halt and people have returned to their countries of origin. The pandemic has proven to be particularly challenging for farming households that view migration and the remittances it generates as a way to increase their income, sustain their livelihoods and mitigate risks.

How migrants and their families are navigating the disruptions caused by the pandemic is discussed in two recent studies…