Refugees Among the Most Vulnerable As Coronavirus Pandemic Ricochets Worldwide

As the coronavirus pandemic reaches every corner of the globe, coverage of Covid-19 has sucked all the oxygen out of the news cycle, meaning few people are paying attention to the world’s most vulnerable populations—internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees.

Pushed off the front pages of international newspapers are stories about the civil war in Syria. Around 3.6 million Syrian refugees are already sheltering in Turkey, with another 3 million Syrians under threat in Idlib. The Syrian government claims there are no cases of coronavirus in the country, but since no one there is being tested, the country’s actual situation is unknown.  Humanitarian groups fear a “catastrophic” outbreak, given refugees and IDPs crowded camps and complete lack of access to medical care.

 The situation is similarly grave in Yemen, where around 100,000 people have already died from war and famine since 2015. Schools have been shuttered, flights delayed, and factories in Sanaa are ramping up production of face masks. This newest threat is being taken seriously, but is only another danger in a long line of other diseases infecting people, including measles, dengue, cholera, and diphtheria. Given the lack of supplies in the country and at camps, even a simple but crucial preventative measure like washing your hands is difficult.

 But Western governments ignore these vulnerable populations at their own risk. Given Turkey’s inability to continue to support refugees in its country, many may be making their way to Europe in the coming weeks and months. Refugees could bring the disease with them, further taxing Europe’s medical infrastructure, if they’re even able to get care at all. 

 Doctors Without Borders has implored Greek authorities to release migrants in the country from the unsanitary camps where they’re being held, because they could become hot beds for the virus.

 At the same time, humanitarian groups are concerned that infections among refugees will lead to further anti-immigrant sentiment and provide an excuse for countries to shut their borders. Even the resettlement of refugees to third countries is being suspended because of fears over spreading the virus. What’s more, as travel has become a leading way of contamination and infection, NGOs are also concerned about exposing refugees to Covid-19.

Photo Credit: John Englart/ Flickr

Photo Credit: John Englart/ Flickr


Health, Human RightsAshley Fornaro refugees coronavirus, covid19, united nationsComment