On this month's cover, refugees clash with police as they attempt to cross the border into Macedonia from Greece. The photo, taken last August, depicts a chaotic scene that has become increasingly familiar as a result of the massive numbers of migrants fleeing to Europe from the Middle East and Africa. At press time, the International Organization for Migration estimated that more than 832,000 refugees had crossed Europe's borders by sea since January 2015-and the numbers continue to rise. Most of the migrants come from Syria, risking their lives to escape extreme violence, destitution, and displacement caused by civil war.
Health concerns within the migrant population are exacerbated by Europe's struggle to bear the huge surge of arrivals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), overcrowding in receiving facilities has led to unsanitary living conditions and instances of food- and waterborne diseases. But the journey itself also takes a toll: the WHO reports that injuries, burns, and psychological trauma are among the most frequent health problems refugees face. Those with chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension find their diseases worsened by the interruption of treatment, and women suffer from pregnancy-related complications and sexual health issues.
As policymakers grapple with responding to the influx and migrants continue to arrive on European borders, it's likely that the crisis will remain a key global political and health issue in 2016. To read about other top health-related news stories of the past year, see "AJN's Year in Review: 2015."-Diane Szulecki, associate editor