‘Overwhelmed’ health systems have little room for sick refugees, migrants, UN agencies warn

Four prominent United Nations system entities have called on countries to protect refugees, migrants, stateless persons and those forcibly displaced by disasters and conflict – some of the world’s most vulnerable populations – against the rapidly expanding COVID-19 pandemic. In a joint statement released today, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed that refugees, migrants and displaced persons are at heightened risk of contracting the new coronavirus disease.

“Three quarters of the world’s refugees and many migrants are hosted in developing regions where health systems are already overwhelmed and under-capacitated,” the statement reads. It notes that many of them live in overcrowded camps, settlements, makeshift shelters or reception centres, where they lack adequate access to health services, clean water and sanitation. The joint statement voices particular concern about the situation for refugees and migrants held in formal and informal places of detention, including migrant children and their families as well as those detained without a sufficient legal basis. The four agencies also stressed that Governments must do everything possible to protect the rights and health of all people, adding that doing so will in fact help control the spread.

Migrants and refugees, who are disproportionately vulnerable to exclusion, stigma and discrimination, must have equal access to health services and be effectively included in national responses to COVID-19 – including prevention, testing and treatment. Meanwhile, countries around the globe are closing their borders and limiting cross-border movements to combat COVID-19. The four agencies stress in their statement that all such actions must be taken in full respect for human rights and refugee protection standards – including the principle of non-refoulement, or no forced return. Quarantines and health checks can help provide solutions. While many nations protect and host refugee and migrant populations, they are often not equipped to respond to crises such as the current pandemic.

Source The UN