Drivers of vulnerability to health impacts of flooding and extreme rainfall for migrants in European cities: A scoping review of the existing literature

This report presents a comprehensive scoping review of existing academic and policy literature on the drivers of vulnerability to the health impacts of flooding and extreme rainfall for migrants living in European cities. Drawing on 42 studies and expert insights, it examines how demographic factors, migration status, racism, housing precarity, labour conditions, health inequalities, neighbourhood infrastructures, and urban planning shape exposure and resilience. Disaster risk reduction is addressed explicitly in the analysis of urban planning and in the dedicated section on DRR policy and approaches, while climate change adaptation is woven throughout, including in discussions of urban planning and DRR. The publication is intended for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and organisations working at the intersection of climate change, health, migration, and social justice, with a geographical focus on European urban contexts and forthcoming fieldwork in Dublin, Antwerp, Marseilles, and Valencia. 

The report recommends moving beyond generic vulnerability metrics towards justice‑centred, intersectional approaches that recognise how structural inequalities shape climate‑related health risks. It highlights the need for inclusive urban planning, improved data collection on migrant health, strengthened social infrastructures, and DRR strategies that explicitly address racism, discrimination, and the lived realities of precarious housing and labour. Lessons learned emphasise the importance of participatory processes, migrant‑led knowledge, and integrated policy responses that bridge climate adaptation, public health, and social protection systems.