Those fleeing the civil war in Syria have accounted for the largest numbers in recent years, but the migrant flow has shifted somewhat in recent months, with larger numbers from Africa.
But this election has been different, with all three major parties saying something must be done to reduce migrant flows that have brought a net inflow since Labour came to power in 1997 of about two million foreigners, many of them people who found their way into Britain without prior approval.
Along with these demographic changes, migration flows have led to an increase in the number of migrant populations approaching old age, particularly in Europe [ 3, 4].
"And by failing to recognise them for what they are, as the most vulnerable among the migrant flows [into the EU], they have been marginalised to the point of invisibility".
Migrant flows between European member states and from non-European countries have been increasing and migrant status has been identified as a risk factor for preterm birth [ 47 ▪, 48, 49 ▪].
From the perspective of reducing migrant flows, it is clear that the EU-Turkey deal has been a success with a reduction of migrants from 57,066 in February to 1,552 in May 2016.
The figures alone point the finger at the military coup in Egypt in 2013 as having the biggest impact on Arab migrant flows today.
What does the future hold for migrant flows?
Italy, Greece and Malta have been pushing at the European council for a suspension mechanism in the Dublin law for times when migrant flows increase into particular countries.
Austria had earlier in the week hosted a summit of Balkan nations on how to regulate the migrant flows, but did not invite Athens.
