As the coronavirus pandemic accelerates, claiming thousands of lives each day, those at greatest risk include some 70 million children, women and men uprooted by war and persecution. Refugees are at high risk of contracting coronavirus since they can’t practice social distancing and have little to no access to proper sanitation systems and healthcare.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working tirelessly on prevention and response efforts, building on its vast experience in the previous outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and influenza, to which the novel coronavirus is related, as well as Ebola.
UNHCR's prevention and response activities in refugee situations include ensuring adequate access to clean water, hygiene supplies and waste disposal in refugee communities. Providing information on hygiene measures, using available national and community education programs and updating communication materials. Collaborating with Ministries of Health, WHO and partners, including at points of entry and refugee sites to prevent an outbreak. Training workers on case definitions and disease identification and management, home care for mild cases, and identification of secondary referral facilities.Advocating for the inclusion of refugees and displaced people in national contingency planning efforts and planning.
Country-specific activities include:
In Kenya, we are increasing soap distributions and running mass communication campaigns to reduce panic and disseminate correct information related to COVID-19.
In Iraq, we are distributing posters and leaflets on transmission and prevention of COVID-19 in Arabic.
In Bangladesh, we are working with partners to strengthen surveillance and early warning systems. We are also training community health work supervisors who will train 1,400 community health work volunteers on prolviding key health messages.
In Iran, we are helping procure protective equipment and sanitation and hygiene items.
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