Covid-19: UN says protecting
refugees and migrants benefits all
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| Migrants from Africa being stopped on the Pan-American highway by Honduran police (AFP) |
“People on the move are part of the solution” and “no one is
safe until everyone is safe,” says the United Nations chief in his new Policy
Brief on people on the move.
By Robin Gomes
As Covid-19 continues to devastate lives and livelihoods
around the globe, hitting the most vulnerable the hardest, UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres is calling on all view the crisis as an opportunity to
reimagine human mobility for the benefit of everyone.
3 crises rolled into 1
In a video message to present his new Policy Brief, entitled
“COVID-19 and People on the Move”, he lamented that millions of people on the
move, such as refugees and internally displaced persons who are forced to flee
their homes from violence or disaster, or migrants in precarious situations,
now face three crises rolled into one.
Firstly, Guterres noted, they are confronted with the health
crisis in a context where in crowded conditions, “social distancing is an
impossible luxury”. Basic necessities such as health care, water,
sanitation and nutrition are often hard to find.
Secondly, people on the move face a socio-economic crisis,
although often without access to any social protection such as those working in
the informal economy.
Guterres pointed out that “the loss of income from COVID-19
is likely to lead to a colossal $109 billion drop in remittances”, depriving
some 800 million people back at home who depend on them.
Thirdly, with than 150 countries imposing border
restrictions to contain the spread of the virus, the UN chief said people on
the move also face a protection crisis. He pointed out that xenophobia, racism
and stigmatization are on the rise, and women and girls are particularly
exposed to gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation.
Yet, despite these challenges, Guterres noted that people on
the move are contributing heroically on the frontlines, in essential work.
As an example, he said about 1 in 8 of all nurses globally is practicing
away from their native countries.
Four core understandings
In this context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Guterres pointed
to 4 core understandings needed to reimagine human mobility.
Firstly, countries need to recognize that exclusion is
costly. On the other hand, “an inclusive public health and socio-economic
response will help suppress the virus, restart our economies and advance the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
The second understanding calls for upholding human dignity
in the face of the pandemic. The UN Secretary-General commended countries that
have implemented restrictions and border controls with full respect for human
rights, as well as international refugee protection principles.
“Third, no-one is safe until everyone is safe,” Guterres
stressed, adding, “diagnostics, treatment and vaccines must be accessible to
all”.
Finally, the Secretary-General reiterated that “people on
the move are also part of the solution”.
“No country can fight the pandemic or manage migration
alone. Together, we can contain the spread of the virus, buffer its impact on
the most vulnerable and recover better for the benefit of all.”
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