The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization have called for protection of the rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless persons as part of the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN agencies working with these vulnerable groups around the world highlighted in a joint statement that the situation of refugees and migrants held in official and unofficial places of detention, in unsanitary conditions, is of particular concern.
In a statement, UN agencies explained that given the deadly consequences of an outbreak of the global viral pandemic, they should be released without delay: “Migrant children, their families, and detainees without a sufficient legal basis must be released immediately”.
UN agencies have confirmed that many refugees, forcibly displaced persons, stateless persons and migrants are “at increased risk” from the worldwide pandemic.
It is worth noting that “three quarters of the refugees in the world” and many migrants in developing regions are hosted in “countries where health systems are already weak and underpowered”.
According to UN agencies, many of these groups live in overcrowded camps, settlements, temporary shelters or reception centers, where they lack health services, clean water and sanitation.
UN agencies believe that this disease “cannot be controlled” unless there is a comprehensive approach that protects everyone’s rights to life and health. They have also mentioned that migrants and refugees are disproportionately subject to exclusion, stigmatization and discrimination.
“While countries close their borders and limit cross-border movements, there are ways to manage border restrictions in a manner that respects international human rights including the principle of non-refoulement”, as explained in the statement.
The UN agencies have called for a joint goal, which is to combat this deadly virus, reminding that many refugees, displaced persons, stateless people and migrants possess skills and resources that could also be part of the solution.
UN agencies also stressed that the world should not allow “fear or intolerance to undermine rights or jeopardize the effectiveness of responding to the global pandemic, as it is only possible to defeat this virus when everyone is protected from it”.
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