Corona; Warning from Four International Organizations Regarding the Situation of Refugees
Four international organizations issued a joint statement warning about the alarming situation of refugees, migrants and displaced persons during the coronavirus pandemic. They called on governments to make efforts to protect the lives of all people.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned in a statement released on March 31 (April 21 in the Persian calendar) that the coronavirus pandemic has created alarming conditions for refugees, migrants, displaced persons and stateless individuals.
In this joint statement, it is stated that three-quarters of the world’s total refugee population and many migrants live in developing countries whose healthcare services and health systems are currently facing challenges and whose capacity is exhausted. According to these international organizations, many of these refugees live in camps, settlements and tents that lack adequate access to healthcare services, clean drinking water and adequate sanitation systems.
They warned in their statement that given the deadly consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, the situation of refugees and migrants held in official and unofficial detention facilities under difficult and unsanitary conditions is extremely concerning. These organizations have called for the immediate release of these refugees.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that migrants and refugees face discrimination and deprivation, especially if their identity is not registered. In this statement, to prevent a “catastrophe”, governments were urged to make all efforts to protect the rights and health of all people.
These organizations wrote that governments need additional financial support to ensure refugees’ and migrants’ access to healthcare and medical systems, and therefore it is necessary for the world’s financial institutions to step in to allocate more financial aid.
In this statement, while referencing governments’ actions to close borders and restrict cross-border movements, it emphasized that there are still ways to manage border restrictions that guarantee respect for international human rights standards and refugee protection standards.
These four international organizations emphasized that in the current crisis situation where the coronavirus is considered a threat to humanity, the main focus should be on preserving the lives of all people regardless of their residence status.
This statement was issued while António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, in his latest speech called the coronavirus “the greatest challenge the world has faced since World War II” and said this challenge requires “a strong and effective response” from humanity.
Guterres on Tuesday, March 31, in a video message addressing world leaders and people regarding the political and economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak, warned and called for international coordination in combating this disease.
Source: DW
