Pandemics and Migration: A Historical Interpretation

History can teach us about the relationship between pandemics and migration. There is always an action-reaction
phenomenon involving the two. Migrations and mobility in general, foster epidemics and pandemics, which in turn
call for restrictions on the freedom of movement. Through invasions, trade, wars and pilgrimages, the movement of
people has always brought disease in faraway parts of the globe. At times migrants are also forced to leave their native
places in search of better opportunities and earnings leaving behind their families. Epidemics and pandemics have
almost always been used as opportunities to impose restrictions on new entries in several countries. Covid-19
pandemic was no exception to this trend in recent times.
An attempt is made in this paper to discuss the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the mobility of the migrants across
the globe. Population migration are potentially both affected by the impact of pandemic and were part of the response
to the pandemic.